Jamie Biesiada
It's been a volatile year for travel agencies, but it looks 2026 will pan out well. Next year is also looking good.
Virtuoso, for instance, reported that 2026 sales are projected to increase 20.8% year over year. And while the consortium said higher prices are a factor, bookings are also up.
Host agency Travel Experts recently surveyed its advisors and found that 85% reported business "up significantly with an extremely strong first six months of 2026," while 7% reported a slow start to the year. Forty-nine percent said they see strong bookings for the remainder of the year and 23% expect business to slow down in the second half of the year. A quarter have bookings in place for 2027 and 2028.
"We are hearing from most of our advisors that the first six months of 2026, as well as the second half of the year, are going to continue to be robust despite the concerns in the marketplace as a result of foreign conflicts and higher fuel prices, which are making travel more expensive," Travel Experts executive director Sharon Fake said.
Sharon Fake
It indicates that the luxury market, the focus of most Travel Experts advisors, continues to be resilient, Fake said.
If there's any softness in the back half of the year, it could be partially offset by the continuing trend of close-in bookings. While it does mean extra work and more scrambling than usual, last-minute bookings can help fill in the gaps. It's something Travel Experts advisors are already experiencing.
Liz Squillante of Springboard Travel in New Canaan, Conn., for instance, said she's seeing a lot of last-minute trips with shorter timelines than usual.
"With uncertainty around the war, the economy and safety, clients are hesitant to commit far in advance, but when they do book, they're still investing fully in the experience," Squillante said.
Pavlus Travel & Cruise in Albuquerque, N.M., reported what will likely be a record-breaking year, citing solid luxury travel demand.
"The business outlook for the remainder of 2026 and heading toward 2027 looks quite positive," founder and CEO Craig Pavlus said.
Pavlus noted a few trends that have emerged this year, including clients who previously booked premium travel moving into the luxury or ultraluxury sphere. The agency has also seen a number of clients booking several future vacations, as many as four, at the same time.
Sales have also benefitted from suppliers releasing itineraries for 2028, or even 2029, earlier than expected.
"That gives travelers a wider range of options to consider," said Janet Anderson, Pavlus' director of luxury travel development.