
2022
NINETY-ONE PERCENT (91%) OF THE 684 TRAVEL
ADVISORS SURVEYED WERE EITHER AGENCY OWNERS
OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS and 9% were
employees.Thirty-two percent (32%) of the total have been
selling travel for more than 30 years.This reflects the high
level of experience that the respondents possess.
IN TERMS OF AGENCY ANNUAL GROSS SALES, THIRTY-
THREE PERCENT (33%) booked over one million in gross
sales in 2019. The mean gross bookings for the advisors
from the respondent pool in 2019 was $1.1 million.
A MAJORITY OF ADVISORS (91%) HAD SOME TYPE
OF AFFILIATION, WHETHER CONSORTIUM, HOST
OR FRANCHISE. Of this, 45% chose to work with a
consortium and 38% are working with a host agency.
A WHOPPING 89% OF RESPONDENTS SELL MULTI-
GENERATION VACATIONS. It formed a 26% share of their
2019 annual gross bookings, of which cruises were 33%.
This indicates that cruise has a lot of legroom to grow in
this segment.
THE TOP THREE REASONS FOR SELLING MULTI-
GENERATION VACATIONS are: because products
matched the clients’ needs (64%), advisors found an
opportunity to deliver personalized services to them
(54%) and they saw an increased demand for such
vacations (46%).
CARIBBEAN AND THE BAHAMAS OUTPERFORMED ALL
OTHER DESTINATIONS at 80%, with Alaska in the second
spot at 54%. This could be because of easy connectivity
and proximity to North America.
Primary motivators for multi-generation vacations
include family reunions for GRANDPARENTS (90%),
CREATING NEW MEMORIES FOR PARENTS (85%) AND
TO EXPLORE AND HAVE FUN FOR CHILDREN (72%).
THE TYPICAL GROUP SIZE FOR MULTI-GENERATION
VACATIONS IS BETWEEN SIX AND TEN, SAY 65% OF
ADVISORS AND 28% REPORTING 11+ GUESTS IN THEIR
GROUPS.
SEVENTY-SIX PERCENT (76%) OF ADVISORS SAY THAT
THE TOTAL COST/VALUE OF THE PACKAGE IS THE
PRIMARY FACTOR for families to book multi-generation
cruise vacations.
GRANDPARENTS USUALLY SPONSOR MULTI-
GENERATION VACATIONS, ACCORDING TO 43% OF
ADVISORS. Parents alone pay for 27% of such vacations,
while 30% of them have both parents and grandparents
chipping in.
ITINERARY (64%) AND SHIPBOARD AMENITIES (61%)
ARE THE TOP TWO FACTORS IN CHOOSING A CRUISE
LINE FOR FAMILIES. Royal Caribbean leads the pack with
an 81% share. It is followed by NCL (53%) and Princess
Cruises (42%).
FORTY-SIX PERCENT (46%) OF ADVISORS FEEL LOYALTY
PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEIR CLIENTS while
booking cruises. This shows there is a lot of work that
needs to be done by both suppliers and advisors in terms
of communicating the value of loyalty programs.
TOP ENABLERS FOR BETTER SALES OF MULTI-
GENERATION CRUISES ARE PERSONAL CRUISE
EXPERIENCE (55%) AND BETTER COMMISSIONS (48%).
Eighty-one percent (81%) of advisors say fam trips are
the preferred format for training.
KEY
FINDINGS