Hey {{first_name}}!
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.
🗞️ Industry News Roundup
1. Two big consumer protection rules just got scrapped under the Trump administration
The U.S. Department of Transportation has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required airlines to pay compensation to passengers for delays or cancellations that are within the airline’s control. Also scrapped: a ban on non-compete agreements in workplaces. The compensation rule would have provided between $200-$775, depending on delay length, plus provisions for lodging, meals, and rebooking.
Why It Matters:
Customer expectations & communication: Agents will need to manage traveler expectations more carefully — many may assume such protections exist; the rollback means agents must clarify what compensation (if any) is the airline’s policy vs what was proposed.
Risk & liability: With fewer protections for travelers, disruptions may impose more costs (financial, reputational) on agents if clients expect more. Good contracts, policies, and clauses will become more important.
Competitive differentiation: Agents who build strong policies, guarantees, or offer ancillary products (insurance, backup plans) can gain an advantage over those who leave clients exposed.
Supplier impacts: Airlines may reduce voluntary compensation and make possible changes to terms, conditions, or how claims are handled — agents should closely monitor these developments.
2. The B2B Battleground: Expedia, Booking, and Hopper are redefining online travel’s quiet money machine
The article discusses how companies like Expedia, Booking, and Hopper are pushing hard in their B2B channels, not just consumer‐facing sites. They see B2B as a growth lever (partner businesses, supplier integrations, etc.), and are innovating their revenue models accordingly.
Why it matters:
Agents could increasingly become “partners” rather than just resellers, plugging into (or competing with) these B2B platforms.
Margins/commission structures may shift if the platforms change how they pay or partner with agencies.
Agents should evaluate the potential to partner with or use services from these players.
Need to monitor how these B2B innovations affect competitive pressure (e.g. fewer middlemen, more direct integrations).
3. The Safari Industry’s Self-Made Growth Problem
The safari tourism sector in Africa is seeing strong demand, but is being held back by internal constraints. Among the issues: fragmented supply chains, poor infrastructure, unclear communications about what’s included (or not) in safari packages, booking complexity (permits, transfers, guides), and sustainability challenges. As a result, many potential clients give up or go with more straightforward destinations.
Why it matters:
Opportunity in Niche / Premium Product Gaps: Safari travel is premium, experiential, and highly appealing. There’s a market waiting if agents can simplify the buying process, offer transparent inclusions, and reduce friction. Agents who can act as trusted intermediaries (navigating guides, transfers, lodging, permits) will have an advantage.
Supply / Partner Vetting Is Critical: Because many of the constraints are internal to the safari operators (scheduling, logistics, infrastructure), agents need to choose partners carefully. Agents must ensure their supplier operators are reliable, that infrastructure is in place, and that clients will have good on-ground experiences.
Differentiation Through Clarity & Service: Translating complex itineraries into clear packages, with visuals, transparent costs, expectations, sustainability credentials, etc., will help win customer confidence. Agents can differentiate by doing the work of smoothing out those complexities.
Sustainability & Local Impact Will Be Scrutinized: Clients who go on safaris often expect nature, conservation, and local communities to be respected. Sustainability (e.g., carbon footprint, habitat protection, ethical tourism) will increasingly determine both pricing and reputation. Agents must understand and communicate these factors.
Price & Margin Implications: Because of the constraints, safari operators often have high cost overheads. Agents will need to manage margins carefully, perhaps absorbing more client education, handling logistics, or bundling premium extras. But because customers who go on safari tend to expect higher service and are more willing to pay for value, there is margin potential.
💡Advisor Spotlight: Tanya Zhuk, Travel Advisor
My Top Tip:
Stay informed about what truly matters to your clients so your message resonates instead of fading into the noise of their feeds. Relevance builds trust — and trusted advisors always stand out.
Tanya’s Go-To Tools:
Email Automation – Keeps me top-of-mind with clients through consistent, personalized touchpoints.
Canva – Fast, polished visuals that make my marketing look professional without a design team. Plus, they have thousands of travel templates to make it easy.
RSS Feeds – A quick way to spot trends and repurpose timely travel news into client-ready content. (You can use Feedly to see multiple feeds in one platform)
ChatGPT – My copy editor and brainstorm partner for sharper emails, posts, and proposals.
🌍Destination Trio: Three unique destinations to recommend
Oaxaca, Mexico
A cultural gem in southern Mexico, Oaxaca is famed for its vibrant indigenous traditions, colonial architecture, and colorful festivals. Visitors can explore lively markets filled with crafts and mole sauces, tour mezcal distilleries in the surrounding valleys, and visit Monte Albán, one of Mexico’s most important archaeological sites. The city also serves as a gateway to nearby mountain villages and natural wonders.
The best time to visit: October – April, with November especially lively during Día de los Muertos celebrations.
Hoi An, Vietnam
A UNESCO World Heritage town where history and charm blend seamlessly — wander lantern-lit streets lined with centuries-old merchant houses, explore bustling markets, and enjoy a world-class food scene. Just outside the city, An Bang Beach offers a relaxed escape, and nearby rice paddies and villages showcase Vietnam’s rural life.
The best time to visit: February – April, when the weather is dry and mild, perfect for strolling the old town and cycling through the countryside.
Madeira, Portugal
Often called the “Island of Eternal Spring,” Madeira combines rugged volcanic cliffs, lush forests, and flower-filled landscapes. Travelers can hike the island’s levada trails, taste world-famous fortified wines, and admire panoramic views from sky-high peaks like Pico do Arieiro. The capital, Funchal, charms with gardens, markets, and a cosmopolitan flair.
The best time to visit: April – October, when the climate is warm, the trails are clear, and festivals bring color and energy to the island.
Voyagr Update
We ran into a few delays with the booking system. Some of the technology partners with were planning to use for the booking engine changed their requirements the day we were supposed to start using them. It delayed us about a week while we searched for a new partner, but we have found one and should be on track to launch in 2 - 3 weeks.
As mentioned before, when we launch the booking system, you will only be able to book hotels, but Project Expeditions’ inventory will be integrated shortly after hotels.
If you join our platform before we launch the hotels, you will need to fill out a new form with some more required info, so that we can properly pay you the commissions. Some of the commissions will be coming directly from Voyagr, and others (Like Project Expedition) will be paid from the supplier.
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.
