How to Market Your Travel Business During the Holiday Season

As the holiday season arrives, it's not uncommon for travelers to start feeling some cabin fever. You might feel the same, whether you’re looking to escape the cold weather or head to that central meeting place to be together with family, there’s a reason the holidays are the busiest travel time of the year.  

As a travel advisor, that means you have to be on red alert.  

Holiday travel trends are shaping vacation plans. The winds are trending toward shoppers prioritizing experiences over material possessions, especially during the holidays.  

For travel advisors, the end of the year can be a lucrative time to market holiday travel packages and experiences. You have a unique opportunity to capitalize on this peak season and offer exceptional travel experiences to your clients. By implementing effective marketing strategies, you can attract new clients, retain existing ones, and boost your holiday travel bookings.  

Here are some strategies and tips that can help travel advisors promote holiday travel effectively. 

Focusing on Holiday-Specific Products 

Capitalize on current holiday travel trends by promoting specialized holiday travel products supplier partners might offer. Be sure to focus on specific products related to your niche to highlight your expertise. Of course, this means being tuned in with the suppliers you sell, their offerings, and when they like to offer deals on holiday travel.  

Embracing the Allure of Holiday Travel as a Gift 

If you’re a travel advisor, you know that you can’t truly place a price on an unforgettable travel experience. That point should be the lead message when you connect with current and prospective clients looking to book travel for their loved ones around the holidays.  

Encourage satisfied clients to refer friends and family during the holiday season.  Happy past travelers can be your best marketers, and word-of-mouth recommendations can prove particularly effective during the holidays. 

Travel advisors, after all, are in the business of giving the gift of travel. Extend that idea onto your clients and show them your passion. Authenticity like that can’t be faked, and it will go a long way toward continuing to developing and strengthening those client relationships.  

Holiday Travel Trends: Navigating Success as a Travel Advisor 

Staying ahead in holiday travel requires understanding client desires. You must guide them toward unforgettable experiences. 

Research using reliable sources for insights into emerging destinations, overall holiday travel, and family preferences. Knowledge of travel costs and travel predictions will establish you as a trusted resource. 

For instance, many travelers are now leaning towards eco-friendly travel options or experiential vacations, such as cooking classes in Tuscany or rustic festivals in small towns. By tapping into these trends and offering packages that align with them, travel advisors can effectively engage clients’ interests. 

Crafting Holiday-Themed Travel Packages: What Clients Seek 

Of course, the type of holiday travel you’re selling depends on who you’re selling it to. A family of four isn’t going to necessarily be looking to travel to an exclusive all-inclusive on a remote island, whereas a couple looking to get away for a week might be the perfect demographic for that type of trip.  

Before you do your marketing or reach out to your clients, try physically writing down and visualizing what vacation packages might be best for each subset. That way, you’ll have a clear idea of the message you want to get across for each of your clients when you get them on the phone or exchange messages.

Use clear descriptions of locations or niche offers like a hotel room overlooking the beach. Emphasize customization to meet every client need. And offer personalized suggestions based on individual tastes, needs, and budget.  

Harnessing the Power of Marketing and FOMO 

We all know that during the holiday season, social media is always abuzz. People want to share their memories from what, for many, is the happiest time of the year. Lean into this idea when you’re selling travel for this time. This year, instead of Grandma and Grandpa’s house, why not a trip to a theme park for a few days? Or a cruise where everyone can be together at a tropical location with something for everyone?  

What’s more, as the holidays approach, many travelers often look for last-minute deals. Promote discounts on travel packages you find leading up to the holidays for those who may not have planned their trips far in advance. Leveraging that sense of urgency can compel prospective clients to make quick decisions, especially for special holiday experiences. 

Someone might come to you wanting to travel—it's your job to push them over the finish line. Show them what they’d be missing if they don’t take the trip. Those memories—and Instagram posts—will be totally worth it.