Travel advisor survey shows bookings decline, but not across the board

Travel Weekly

3 days ago

A majority of travel advisors say that bookings are down this year compared to last, with the economy, consumer confidence and price sensitivity all playing roles.
A Travel Weekly survey fielded last month found that 27.8% of respondents reported a significant decrease in bookings so far in 2025, while 29.9% reported a slight decrease. That adds up to 57.7% who are reporting some kind of decrease.
Ten percent reported no change in bookings, 18.5% reported a slight increase, and 12.8% reported a significant increase.
Travel Weekly's survey, fielded online from May 12 to 25, had 358 respondents who are either travel advisors or travel agency owners/managers. It sought to understand how travel agencies and their clients have been impacted by consumer confidence, the economic outlook, changes at the federal government level and recent air travel safety incidents.
The economy and consumer sentiment stood out as issues impacting client bookings for many advisors.
In total, 57.6% of respondents said the economic climate and consumer confidence has either slightly or significantly decreased their clients' willingness to book travel. Travelers are also becoming more cost-conscious compared to last year, with 62.7% of respondents saying clients are either slightly or significantly more price sensitive.
In the comments section of the survey, respondents expressed concerns about a number of factors, such as the impact of tariffs, stock market volatility and broad economic uncertainty.
One advisor based in Naples, Fla., pointed out that middle-class families especially have shared their concerns about traveling, canceled plans or held off on booking because of the economy.
"Many who have plans that have not canceled have expressed great concern and anxiety regarding both financial aspects and the way they will be treated when they travel," the advisor wrote.
Fading worries about government changes
While most respondents are grappling with reduced bookings, their level of concern regarding federal government changes has decreased since March.
In a survey fielded then, Travel Weekly found that 51.7% of respondents were very concerned about the long-term impact of federal government changes on their travel business, while only 20.2% were not concerned. The remaining respondents were either moderately (19.7%) or slightly (8.4%) concerned.
In the May survey, 20.3% of advisors said they were very concerned, while 26.1% said they were not concerned. The number of advisors reporting slight or moderate concern, 29.9% and 23.8%, respectively, increased.
Similarly, advisors were asked in March and again in May how concerned they were about the long-term impact of government changes on the industry as a whole. In March, the majority, 54.9%, were very concerned. That number dropped to 26.4% in May. The number of advisors reporting they weren't concerned increased from 18.2% in March to 24.5% in May.
Still, 58.9% of advisors in the most recent survey said shifts in international relations or geopolitical events had significantly or slightly influenced clients' international bookings. And clients' concern about the reception of Americans in other countries largely stayed the same in the March and May surveys, at 59.5% and 61%, respectively. In the latest survey, 21.7% reported cancellations due to the perception of Americans abroad, a number unchanged since March.
'This too shall pass'
Despite the business downturn, many respondents expressed their belief in the resilience of the travel industry. And some said business was booming or at least on par with last year.
"Thankfully, the travel industry has been able to remain viable over the years no matter what monkey wrench gets thrown our way," said Dee Framson, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based advisor.
An advisor based in Encinitas, Calif., has also seen a positive trend: last-minute summer travel requests.
"I think people were holding out in Q1 to see what the immediate effects of our new administration were going to be, then decided to just go forward with their plans in Q2," the advisor wrote.
One New York-based advisor said the industry has learned to ride out such headwinds.
"Shifting economic conditions and geopolitical uncertainties may impact current and short-term travel demand in certain sectors, as seen by the recent inbound decline of tourists to the U.S.," the advisor wrote. "But what we have learned from past turbulent times is how resilient our industry is and how it quickly adapts to meet challenges [it] may have little control over."
Another veteran advisor with 40-plus years in the industry said that 2025 sales are down, but 2026 and 2027 already look strong.
"This is not the first economic downturn I've seen due to issues outside of my control," the advisor wrote. "This too shall pass."
Little concern about air travel safety
Despite several high-profile air travel incidents this year, advisors said that clients seem largely unconcerned.
More than half (51.7%) of respondents said clients haven't shared any questions or concerns about air travel safety, and only 6.4% are hearing frequent concerns. Meanwhile, 85% reported no cancellations due to air safety or airport disruption concerns, while 10.9% have had cancellations and 4% were unsure.
One air travel standout many commented on was Newark Airport, where delays, cancellations and technology failures have been rampant. Multiple respondents said clients want to avoid traveling through the New Jersey airport. One advisor wrote simply, "Don't book me through Newark!"