Festive season travel is shaping up nicely, but bookings got a bit of a late start this year.
At Jetset World Travel in Atlanta, festive season bookings only picked up in the past two weeks, according to Jeremy Sulek, COO and co-owner. Things were looking a little quieter earlier this summer.
During Virtuoso Travel Week in August, Sulek recalled talking to other agency owners and suppliers about the festive season.
“Consensus did feel, at least when talking with hotels, that we’re seeing a lot of availability still,” Sulek said. “Minimums aren’t nearly as strict as they usually are during that time period. Prices are a little soft relative to what we felt like they were during the summer.”
But in the past two weeks, Jetset has seen “a surge in requests” for festive season travel, he said.
Normally, that would be stressful, but Sulek said advisors are still finding availability for their clients.
Caribbean and Mexico are hot destinations
The Caribbean and Mexico are the top destinations for Jetset clients, he said. South America and Asia are also picking up steam.
While Europe was extremely popular this summer, he said travel to the region among Jetset clients is slightly down for the festive period.
Margie Hand, a Birmingham, Ala.-based affiliate of Andavo Travel, is still fielding several festive travel requests and recent inquiries. She estimated her bookings right now are on par with last year’s, but more seem to be coming in.
A number of Hand’s clients did book earlier this year. Those tended to be higher-end clients. Hand found herself reaching out on their behalf to yacht charters and luxury Caribbean hotels before 2023 even wrapped, she said.
While she has a few ski and Europe requests, most of her clients are opting to travel to the Caribbean.
However, pricing is coming into play this year.
Pricing is a factor
“I am still getting a lot of requests but have found that many of my clients are choosing to stay closer to home because of the significant increase in costs,” Hand said.
Some clients have opted to move their trips to avoid the pricier festive period.
Hand is running into trouble finding remaining availability for clients. While some minimum stay requirements have relaxed from 10-night minimums to seven- or eight-night minimums, availability is slim.
“Those that are booking now are having to compromise on desired room types and amenities,” she said.
This year, several of Hand’s clients are doing multigenerational travel to the Caribbean, renting villas or chartering yachts. Villas in St. Maarten, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica have been popular.
