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There is a BIG difference between fads and trends - A "fad" was the Pet Rock. Some of you may remember the Pet Rock - now that was a fad. A "trend" however, is something with substance that has legs - and staying power. You want a destination to remain in the trend column and avoid the pitfalls of thinking the party will never end.
The travel business is doing well right now. It wasn't too long ago - 2007- when the industry dried up in the clutches of a dreaded Recession. The industry didn't really come back until 2012. For many hospitality businesses their sales are just returning to 2007 levels! We are pleased to say that 2013 was one of Mayflower Tours' best years - the second best ever to be exact.
Let's get back to trends - what's going on out there. What are some of the successful travel products that are driving the market:
 The River Cruise phenomenon takes first place in this renaissance. Travelers are loving river cruises. Letting the river cruise vessels do the traveling from place to place rather than the traveler moving from hotel to hotel is a concept that consumers are embracing. Packing and unpacking once is one of the most important benefits. European river cruises are selling like hot cakes as the traveler goes from town to town throughout the waterways of Europe. The local cultures, food and wine are theirs to experience with ease.
Exotic destinations are very popular - Places like Cuba, Myanmar, Tanzania. Consumers look to tour professionals to take them to destinations that are out of the way or have a language barrier or an area that they may need some hand holding.
 Another place that is doing very well is the Pacific Northwest - What is it about Oregon that our travelers like so much? First of all they are hearing more and more about Oregon through consumer awareness, travel industry, and social media. Promotional entities - from the state level down to the smallest local level - have been doing a tremendous job of promoting the allure. There's an old saying "you can't play in the band if you don't toot your horn." Well, the good folks in Oregon have been doing just that - and it is paying off.
Dining Experiences - Travelers live to eat out on tour. Farm to Table is catching on big, and Oregon is one of the leaders in this field. The travelers love it. They also enjoy partaking of regional wines (it makes them feel more at home in a region), along with local culture.
A lot of research/consumer awareness is going on by our travelers - They are reading such publications as the Wall Street Journal on the top restaurants and wines and they are impressed.
Airlines - Consumers realize that flying is a necessary evil yet more and more just don't want to go through the process of flying, especially when they have multiple airline connections. This is where the tour operator comes in as we take care of the booking of their airline ticket so their trip is seamless. The drive market as well as the family market will continue to grow and grow.
What are some other trends we are seeing...
Organized Independence - ME time and FREE time! Traveling on an escorted tour is an organized experience. It is the tour operator's job to give our travelers time on their own.
Too much of a good thing is too much and our travelers are not fulfilled when we do not give them free time to unwind.
Distribution Channels - The tour operator is very important. Many escorted tour operators have a vey high traveler repeat factor. Consumers trust tour operators as we take them to places that they might not ever do on their own. We hear comments like... "If I didn't take your tour I would have never seen such and such." It is very important that you are partnering with fellow tour operators, and continue to pay attention to that market.
Other trends
 Internet vs. Social Media - We feel the Internet has peaked. It shot up over the years and now it has leveled off. Consumers are still searching the internet more and more, yet now they are returning to professionals in assisting them with choosing the travel experience and making the reservation. There is still a market for consumers who want printed literature/brochures to work off of. Most Travelers who contact us via internet still want a brochure. Social Media is the 21st century version of word of mouth/referrals.
The pre-formed Group Market is still hot, hot, hot. People want to travel with like-minded people. This new trend is still actually an old trend. This concept has not changed. For a tour operator it is very labor intensive to work with pre-formed groups. There is a lot of hand holding, nurturing and motivating, yet getting in front of a group with travel presentations and themed parties converts into travel sales like no other sales method.
 Travel agents - The agency count went from 40,000 to 15,000 locations over the last 10-15 years. But the ones that are left are good...very good. Every travel supplier is struggling on how to find them and talk to them. We have home-based agents, brick and mortar agencies, agencies that are members of consortiums like Vacation.com and AAA. Travel agents are moving targets. Finding them and establishing relationships is hard and very time consuming. But if you don't do it, your competitors will.
Finally... What is going to happen five years from now. Or even 10 and 20 years from now. I can tell you in all confidence that people will still be visiting Yellowstone and Yosemite National parks. They will still stand in awe to view St. Peter's in Rome and the Eiffel Tower. What is changing is how we get there, who we travel with, and how we make the decision to get there. Those are the elements that are in constant change and need to be recognized by all of us. |
