Voyagr Insights - 4th Edition

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Thanks to everyone who signed up. We're excited to bring you the industry insights, advisor tips, destination suggestions, resource suggestions, and more that matter most to your business.

From September 1 through October 31, Azamara will recognize and reward its travel advisors with tools, incentives, and rewards, with the cruise line stating, "travel advisors are the driving force behind our continued growth.

Why It's Impactful: This program directly benefits travel advisors through enhanced incentives, tools, and rewards during a key booking period. It represents a cruise line's increased investment in advisor relationships and provides concrete opportunities for advisors to earn additional compensation and access better resources for their Azamara bookings.

The major travel insurance provider has altered its core offerings and eliminated commission protection, causing many agents to reconsider selling their plans.

Why It's Impactful: This directly affects travel advisors' revenue streams and business operations. The elimination of commission protection means advisors face potential income loss on travel insurance sales, forcing them to reassess their insurance partnerships and possibly switch to alternative providers. This change affects both current bookings and future sales strategies.

India-based travel distribution platform TBO (TBO Tek) has purchased U.S. luxury wholesaler Classic Vacations from The Najafi Companies for approximately $125 million. Classic Vacations generated roughly $111 million in revenue in 2024 and brings an established network of over 10,000 luxury travel advisors and suppliers.

Why It's Impactful: This acquisition merges TBO’s advanced distribution technology with Classic Vacations’ trusted U.S. brand and advisor relationships. The resulting platform enables advisors to access expanded inventory, particularly in luxury and experiential travel, while leveraging tools for personalization and operational efficiency. This elevates the global competitiveness of luxury travel offerings for advisors.

Lithuania is emerging as a top travel destination in Europe for 2025, with fewer tourists, meaning you can enjoy sites at your own pace. This baroque capital offers one of Europe's largest UNESCO Old Towns, incredible value, rich history, and serves as the perfect base for exploring the underrated Baltics. Direct flights from major European cities make it surprisingly accessible.

Best time: May-September for warmest weather and longest days.

The islands of Cebu, Bohol, and Luzon are highly underrated travel destinations that offer incredible value. While everyone goes to Boracay or El Nido, Cebu provides world-class diving, beautiful beaches, rich Spanish colonial history, and serves as the perfect gateway to explore multiple Philippine islands. Neighboring islands are hidden pieces of tropical paradise easily accessible from Cebu's international airport.

Best time: December-May for dry weather and calm seas.

Travel planners are booking clients’ trips to destinations like Bhutan for 2025, known for its scenic landscapes and rich Buddhist culture in the Eastern Himalayas. While Nepal gets the attention, Bhutan offers pristine mountain experiences, a unique "Gross National Happiness" philosophy, carbon-negative tourism, and authentic Buddhist culture. The kingdom recently reduced its sustainable development fee, making it more accessible while maintaining its exclusive appeal.

Best time: October-December and March-May for clear mountain views and pleasant weather.

We have been working on the booking system, and I would like to show you some mockups of what the booking system is going to look like. Below are a few screenshots. Once we launch, you will be able to book hotels. We are continuing to improve and will be integrating Project Expedition shortly after our hotel launch.

Thanks for reading! Forward this to a colleague who could use these insights, and if you have tips to share with fellow advisors, reach out to be featured in an upcoming issue.

Additionally, if you have any suggestions for us on what we should include in this newsletter, please let us know so we can make improvements.