Voyagr Insights - 11th Edition

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Travel Counsellors has agreed to acquire Canadian host agency The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND), creating a transatlantic, technology‑driven agency group with roughly €1.5 billion in combined sales and a community of about 3,900+ travel professionals worldwide. TTAND’s 1,700 Canadian advisors are expected to migrate onto Travel Counsellors’ proprietary platform, giving them access to a larger global brand, expanded tech, and shared best practices while keeping TTAND’s leadership in place.​

Why it’s impactful

A December insight piece on 2026 travel advisor trends outlines how the “transactional agent” era is ending, with more advisors charging professional fees and adopting AI‑enabled tools to future‑proof their businesses. Cited data indicates that by late 2025, 56% of advisors already charge fees and another 25% are considering adding them, while 72% still project strong sales growth, suggesting clients are willing to pay for expertise when the value is clear.​

Why it’s impactful

A recent Recommend article argues that the “travel advisor moment” is still gaining strength, driven by complex itineraries, expanded cruise capacity, and travelers seeking reassurance amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Supplier executives quoted in the piece emphasize that advisors are increasingly seen as strategic distribution partners, not just order‑takers, and that they expect this demand for advisory services to persist into 2026.​

Why it’s impactful

Gozo is the quieter, greener sister island to Malta, with honey-colored villages, coastal walking trails, clear bays for swimming and diving, and a relaxed rural atmosphere that suits couples and repeat Mediterranean travelers. It works well either as a dedicated slow-island stay or as an add-on to a Malta itinerary for clients wanting beach time and soft adventure, often in farm-style accommodations or intimate seaside hotels that feel distinctly local.

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit for most clients is April to June and September to early November, when the island is warm, generally sunny, and less crowded than peak summer. July and August are optimal for beach-focused travelers who prioritize hot weather and lively seaside areas over crowd avoidance.

Tasmania combines dramatic coastlines and wilderness national parks with a strong food and wine scene, historic convict sites, and boutique lodges spread between Hobart, Freycinet, the Tasman Peninsula, and the west coast. It is ideal for clients who enjoy road trips, hiking, wildlife, and cool-climate gastronomy in a less-crowded part of Australia, with itineraries that can blend coastal luxury, rugged landscapes, and time in character-filled small towns.

Best time to visit:

For most travelers, the best time to visit is late spring through early autumn (October to April), with the warmest, driest conditions and the broadest touring options in December to February. Shoulder months on either side of summer suit clients seeking fewer crowds, keener pricing, and more variable but still comfortable weather.

Trento is a small alpine city ringed by Dolomite peaks, known for frescoed Renaissance architecture, local wine and cuisine, and easy access to hiking, cycling, and winter sports in the surrounding valleys. It suits culturally inclined clients who also want active days outdoors, and works well as a stop between Lake Garda, the Dolomites, and northern Italian cities, especially for travelers interested in combining Italian city life with mountain scenery and regional gastronomy.

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit for general sightseeing is late spring and early autumn (roughly mid-April to June and September), when temperatures are mild, and conditions are comfortable for city strolling and nearby hikes. Summer favors clients focused on alpine hiking and cycling in warmer weather, while December is attractive for Christmas markets and access to regional ski areas.

Based on feedback from our early users, we have decided to build a lightweight proposal and itinerary builder. This itinerary builder will not be on the same level as Travefy, TravelJoy, or Tern, but it is a simple way for you to share a public page with your clients so they can see, approve/deny, comment, and ask for changes to their trip. If you would like an early look at our mockup, Click Here.

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