Advisers say 2024 is set to be the best year, if not the best, for travel on record, with strong sales for cruises, destinations such as Italy, Greece and the UK, and all-inclusive resort holidays. That's what it means.
“Cruises and Europe are all hot right now,” said Sam Yaffe, CEO of Crafty Getaways. “Italy and Greece are our biggest sellers, and our customers love the combination of great tours with overnight stays in destinations aboard our luxury ships.”
For Heather Di Pietro, president and CEO of TravelSalesGroup, river cruises have proven to be particularly popular. “River rafting is very popular right now because once you unpack your bags, you can see multiple countries directly from your cabin window,” she said.
“All-inclusives have been popular forever and will continue to be popular. Europe is seeing an increase as well, as resort chains like Hyatt and Iberostar's Inclusive Collection expand their all-inclusive offerings there. I think.”
Vicki Eberhart, CEO and Director of Sales at Klose Travel, noted that multigenerational travel is rapidly gaining popularity. “River rafting and small group trips have remained strong post-pandemic,” she said, adding that the agency is also fielding a high volume of requests for destinations such as Italy and the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, more and more customers are looking for customized vacations. “Anything that can be customized is currently on the request list,” Di Pietro said. “For us, the definition of luxury for most travelers is personalization, making everything tailored to the traveler and their specific wants and needs. And if you do it right, it can last a long time. You will have a loyal customer base over time.”
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