As we end the week, I wanted to show a few key trends that show where we are in the industry right now, and why there's strong momentum in travel.
This first chart is maybe the most bullish indicator for travel advisors. The number of U.S. passport holders is accelerating, a key sign of growing demand for international travel. According to the U.S. Department of State, the number of valid passports in circulation has grown from approximately 101.8 million in 2010 to nearly 170 million in 2024.
The TSA announced it screened nearly 10.4 million travelers at U.S. airports over the recent four-day Labor Day holiday weekend. The Friday before Labor Day, which is typically the busiest travel day of the weekend, saw 2.91 million passengers screened. This was the highest volume ever recorded for that specific day and the 15th busiest single day in the agency’s history. In fact, of the top 10 busiest travel days the TSA has ever reported, eight have occurred since May 23, with the agency on pace to break an all-time annual passenger volume record this year.
While those in the industry are familiar with how politics can impact inbound tourism, the long-term trend for the industry’s place in the global economy is overwhelmingly positive.
- Celebrity Cruises promised it would do European river cruising differently and, so far, it’s delivering. The line unveiled key details of its upcoming river cruise ship fleet, including the first ever cantilevered restaurant on Europe’s rivers. (pictured above)
- Club Med is bringing a new mountain resort to Tremblant, Quebec, a year-round tourist town less than two hours from Montreal’s international airport.
- Luxury tour operator Classic Vacations has a new owner.
- Royal Caribbean diners who chose to make a reservation for a specialty restaurant then decide not to show up will now be subject to an extra fee.
- For Ask-an-Advisor, our panel took a look at what artificial intelligence tools are actually making a different in agency businesses.
- CLIA is suing Hawaii over the state’s “Green Fee” that increases the transit accommodation tax (TAT) on cruise ships.
- A large-scale transformation of The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta is underway, and when completed, it will become The Westin Resort & Spa Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort.
- AmaWaterways is looking to grow its fleet, and new charter ships could be a part of that strategy.
- Amex GBT successfully completed its acquisition of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a $540 million deal that brings together two of the world’s largest travel management companies.
- After significantly increasing its requirements last year, Delta Air Lines will not raise the bar for earning Medallion status for 2027.
- For the second time in less than a year, Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a bid to save the ultra-low-cost airline.
- Luxury tour operator Classic Vacations has a new owner.
- TTC Tour Brands announced the promotion of Jodine Clement to director of sales, Canada, effective immediately.
- Carnival Cruise Line announced that Mike Julius, vice president of North American field sales, has retired after 36 years with the company.
- Signature Travel Network marked a milestone at its annual Owners’ Meeting in San Diego with the appointment of longtime executive Karryn Christopher as president.
- One&Only now has plans to debut in Fiji.
