Good news for travelers: Inflation is easing across the board, the June Consumer Price Index, released this week, revealed. On top of that, travel-related goods and services are at the forefront. For the second month in a row, prices throughout the travel sector have fallen—and at a steeper rate than the overall economy.
According to the U.S. Travel Association-calculated Travel Price Index, prices decreased 1.4 percent from the previous month, led by lower hotel, airline and gas prices. (In contrast, the overall economy saw a 0.1 percent decrease, the first monthly decline since 2020.)
“Now is the time for the travel industry to boost volume,” said U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “We’ve already seen travelers take advantage, with eight of the 10 busiest days in TSA’s history occurring in 2024. It’s essential that the industry is equipped with the right funding, resources and technology—coupled with sustained government focus—to meet an increase in demand.”
The Latest in the Caribbean
Hurricane Beryl tore through the Caribbean as one of the strongest storms to hit several destinations, as well as the strongest ever this early in the Atlantic season.
The Grenada Tourism Authority this week reported that Grenada’s hotels and attractions are fully operational and ready to welcome visitors. That said, its sister islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, have suffered catastrophic damage. Hurricane Beryl’s rains and wind knocked out desalination plants, cell towers and fiber optic cables, left roads impassable, and destroyed houses along with local businesses and income-generating activities.
Elsewhere, Union Island in the Grenadines saw massage destruction. Palm Island resort has started a GoFundMe to help assist those living on the island, many of which are employees of the resort. Other islands in the Grenadines, including Bequia, were not hit as hard.
Jamaica reopened the day following the passage of Beryl last week; the same was true for the Cayman Islands.
In other news from the destination, Aruba introduced a $20 “sustainability fee” for visitors arriving by air to the island. The new fee went into effect at the beginning of the month and is designed to support several projects aimed at enhancing and improving sustainability efforts on the island. The fee must be paid online ahead of time when completing your Embarkation & Disembarkation (ED) Card.
In the Bahamas, Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas completed a $150 million resort-wide transformation, including updates to the casino, guestrooms, restaurants and lounges. The resort has unveiled refreshed guestrooms at The Royal, a redesigned Atlantis Casino and Paranza, a new restaurant at The Cove, plus more.
LGBTQ+ Travel Resources
Adam Martindale, a Cruise Planners franchise owner, has launched the MeetMeOnBoard cruise app for LGBTQ+ travelers. Tailored for the queer community, the app offers access to comprehensive LGBTQ+ resources, including insights into cruise brands committed to fostering inclusive environments and updates on trending cruise information that will help them make informed decisions about their future travel plans. Through the app, cruisers can also discover fellow LGBTQ+ companions aboard their cruise, fostering connections before setting sail.
In Spain, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao will become the first museum to earn the “Queer Destinations Committed” distinction. With the clear goal of promoting the inclusion and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community in the field of culture, this distinction marks an important step in its commitment to diversity and accessibility. The designation is awarded by Queer Destinations, a leading LGBTQ+ tourism company, and is recognized internationally thanks to its endorsement by the IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association).
Travel Industry Events and Tools
Signature Travel Network recently concluded its 2024 regional events, reinforcing its commitment to educate and connect advisors and partners. The events, held in Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Ft. Lauderdale, drew more than 1,200 attendees and saw 7,000-plus appointments and 50-plus presentations over the course of one month. These regionals comprised three types of events: Regional Management Meetings, Embark Sales Bootcamps and Travel Exchanges.
Cruise Planners also recently held its second Elite Summit in 2024 for its top-producing travel advisor franchisees aboard Ponant's Le Lyrial. The event convened about 100 of Cruise Planners’ highest-performing travel advisors and 14 cruise and tour suppliers. Hosted by three of Cruise Planners’ executives, the group embarked on a voyage through the landscapes of the Arctic region.
Separately, Travelport debuted a Content Curation Layer (CCL) as the latest enhancement to the Travelport+ platform. This CCL uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to deliver a right range of accurate, intuitive search results to its travel agency partners worldwide. One of the key features of the CCL is the Content Optimizer, a new Travelport+ product that offers agency customers greater control over all content types, including both traditional and NDC content.
A Moment of Your Time
Travel Agent has launched the latest iteration of its quarterly "Travel Trends & Advisor Insight Survey." We use these surveys to learn more about the current state of the travel industry, as well as your business. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey; following its conclusion, we will publish the findings here, so you will gain insight into the larger travel ecosystem and your colleague's businesses.
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