Six Skift Megatrends That Bode Well For Travel Agents

Travel agents can take heart from a new report by Skift, a major travel publisher and event host, which identifies a number of key “megatrends” that incorporate the human element of travel agent strengths.

Here are some of the top megatrends that bode well for an increasing need for travel agents:

1. Humanity returns to travel, in an age of digital overload
Who better than an expert human agent to help travelers create the experience they’re deeply desiring. Skift wrote: “All of the data in the world is much more powerful when placed in the hands of a well-trained, empathic person who can anticipate, be flexible, and help steward a cohesive experience.”

TMR Says: You create a balance between person-to-person and high-tech skills to inform and care for your clients’ needs.

2. Overtourism goes mainstream, destinations get smarter about solving it
Skift says destinations are being overwhelmed by a surge of tourists, causing a backlash from popular destinations like Barcelona and Venice, and causing vacationers to seek out alternative places to visit. “For the last few years, New York has balanced its influx of tourists by pushing a five-borough strategy that gets visitors out of Manhattan and into Queens and Brooklyn neighborhoods they wouldn’t have set foot in 10 years ago. It’s a release valve that spreads the tourist wealth, and disruption, around the city.”

TMR Says: Agents can learn about alternative hotel districts and help clients find less-traveled destinations.

3. The 50s are the new target demographic for travel brands
Nearly half of the U.S. population will be 50 years or older this year. “There’s the family trip and the business trip, but also single women or men traveling as a group, multi-generational escapes, adventure breaks, and romantic getaways. All of these are the same consumer, it’s just a matter of when marketers hit them with a message.”

TMR Says: Don’t get caught up in hunting down Millennials at the expense of the 50+ market.

4. Tours and activities are finally coming into their own
“Serving up the right tour to the traveler at the right time” is a big challenge, Skift reports. “The entire industry has a long way to go in figuring out how to serve up relevant content at the appropriate time.”

TMR says: Travel agents who know their clients or ask intelligent qualifying questions can help discern the right tour for a traveler.

5. Dining out is the main event
“Restaurants have always been destinations, and as described in our 2016 Megatrend ‘The Bourdain Effect,’ food is a major hook in travel and trip planning. The way we’re eating as a culture has changed, and restaurants have evolved to become destinations in their own right.”

TMR Says: Don’t overlook the importance of knowing the dining hotspots and newcomers, secluded romantic spots and family-friendly restaurants that can make your clients’ next trip extra special. They’ll reward you for it.

6. The new luxury is defined by small brands with big stories
“Today’s concept of luxury, whether for retail or for travel, isn’t what it used to be. It’s not about conspicuous consumption. It’s about the personal journey, the experience, and the story behind it all,” Skift writes.

TMR Says: Again, travel agents who are curating experiences by educating themselves through webinars, fam trips, and marrying that expertise with their unique knowledge of their clients’ travel desires is a win-win for everyone.