Luxury Travel Continues to Soar

RALEIGH, N.C., May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Experts, Inc., the premier host agency for independent luxury travel agents, predicts luxury travel will continue to grow throughout 2017. On the heels of a record-breaking 32% growth in revenue in 2016, 58% of Travel Experts' luxury travel agents report an increase in sales year-to-date. While economic growth and a strong dollar were cited as contributing factors, 55% of travel agents polled attribute growth to an increased awareness of the value of using a luxury travel agent. 

"Very sophisticated, experienced travelers, fully capable of booking their own hotels online, are turning to travel advisors to do the work for them," noted Lynn Juliano, an independent affiliate of Travel Experts. "Their time is valuable and they trust our ability to leverage our contacts to get the best rates, special upgrades and VIP treatment upon their arrival," she added.

According to the survey, River Cruising is the largest growth segment in luxury travel, while family and adventure travel are strong contenders for second place. While these kinds of trips are predominantly enjoyed by Baby Boomers, an increasing number of Gen Xer's are expressing an interest in jumping on-board this new trend.

Susan Ferrell, President of Travel Experts, attributes this growth to the hard work and motivation of travel agents. "Travel agents are entrepreneurs," she explains. "Our agents spend on average 35-40 days each year completing on-site inspections and travel research, as well as making reliable contacts in regions they recommend to clients. They go above and beyond to ensure that their clients have a remarkable travel experience."

Other notable findings from the survey include:

• Adventure travel as the number one vacation choice of Millennials
• Gen Xer's continue to dominate the luxury family travel market
• When not River Cruising, multigenerational and bucket list travel are high priorities for Baby Boomers

Europe remains the number one requested destination at 72%, with North America cited as the second most popular destination among luxury travelers. Iceland was earmarked as a "hot" destination trend for 2017 and beyond. It will be interesting to see if these trends continue into 2018!

Click the link below to access more results from Travel Experts' luxury travel trends report: http://www.independenttravelprofessionals.com/Luxury-Travel-Trends.html

About Travel Experts

Travel Experts, Inc. was established in 1989 as a pioneering host agency, designed to support and promote the businesses of independent travel consultants around the country. Travel Experts is also a proud member of Virtuoso, giving their travel consultants access to exclusive, added-value arrangements with top travel providers. For more information, call 800-274-2544 or contact Travel Experts via email at [email protected]. Further details about Travel Experts are also available on the web at http://www.independenttravelprofessionals.com.

SOURCE Travel Experts, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.independenttravelprofessionals.com