Articles tagged “tour operators”

As bad as 2021 has been for tour operators, 2022 could be worse — especially if new variants emerge, which could spark a wave of even more travel restrictions that would cripple so many struggling companies.

A couple more U.S.-based startups — El Camino Travel and Regenerative Travel — have recently announced subscription-based products. What's noteworthy is how they're using subscriptions to build communities.

As travel revives, industry leaders must address their sector's impact on the climate and on local communities. Otherwise, the sector risks attacks from the media and becoming a "poster child of something pretty negative," says the top boss of tour operator Intrepid.

Although many tour operators are hopeful they'll stage Christmas market tours next year, they'll rue missing out on an enormous amounts of revenue generated by the popular excursions for a long time — especially as many haven't fully recovered from the pandemic.

Travelers in many parts of the world are used to the online booking of build-your-own vacation packages, and others prefer to walk into a travel agency to plan. After many years, TUI is trying to embrace digital trends, and is modestly executing on a plan to get more online.

Although some travel companies have succeeded in finding suitable restaurants for clients via OpenTable, the fact they've had to resort to the platform is a sign of how difficult planning travel has become during the pandemic.

As lucrative as the U.S. reopening to fully vaccinated international visitors stands to be for many companies in the travel industry, others are still deeply damaged so much to be properly prepared for the influx.

Although the U.S. travel industry anxiously awaits the return of Chinese visitors, the timing will largely depend on when Beijing decides to ease outbound travel restrictions.

Like a hotel guest who dips a toe into the pool before diving in, TUI is gauging interest for a new kind of package. Its global network and brand familiarity will work in its favor, but the prices less so.

Anyone seeking to understand leisure travel overlooks tour operators at their own risk. It is one of the last great offline sectors in the travel industry but that cannot last. Changing consumer behavior and new tech is driving disruption in these businesses, the effects of which have only been compounded by the significant impact of COVID-19.