Whether it's a family vacation, a destination wedding or several friends gearing up for a getaway, the group vacation is becoming increasingly popular.
It's not hard to see why either. Travel is great, but it's even better when you're surrounded by people you're comfortable with.
Majority of places absolutely love the group vacation, because it means more business for them, especially those destination weddings.
When traveling by group, your travel agent can find superb deals to help lower the overall cost. After all, the cost is such an essential factor for group travel because not everyone has the same budget and certain places are going to be more expensive than others.
One way that group travelers try to save on their own is with a vacation rental like Airbnb, which can be a tricky ordeal. You don't honestly know what you're getting until you arrive. Sometimes it works out, and other times you're left with terrible towels, awful WiFi connection, no hangers in the closet or worse, no coffee.
Why risk that? Especially if you're the person organizing the trip because if something goes wrong with the place you booked, everyone will turn the blame to you.
Instead, use a travel agent to find a terrific group rate for your entire party, removing the stress that can come with trying to book a vacation for your entire family or group of friends.
If a villa or home is what you'd prefer so that everyone is together, your agent can book you at a more trusted place, like Travvy award winner Villas of Distinction.
This past weekend I traveled around Charleston, South Carolina and saw nearly a dozen bachelorette parties. Last month in Las Vegas it was the same thing. I'm sure there were plenty of bachelor party crews as well, it's just much easier to identify and count the bachelorette parties thanks to the crowns, sashes and those matching shirts - which one bachelor crew of bros had on the Vegas strip.
I asked some of them if they booked an Airbnb or a hotel, and if any used a travel agent. A few said Airbnb "because it's cheap." However, one said she let her travel agent do the work and got a great deal on rooms with a view of the Las Vegas strip.
Everyone's entitled to do as they please, but who doesn't love saving money and time?
Get Caught Up
In case you missed it this past week:
It was a big week for theme parks as Disney unveiled new details for Star Wars: Galaxy Edge and Universal announced a new TODAY café as well as a new light show coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Additionally, Disney Cruise Line announced big plans for summer 2020, including a return to Greece.
Barack Obama was named the keynote speaker for this year's WTTC Summit, which focuses on "Changemakers."
American and Delta were fined by the FAA for tarmac delays.
It's March, which means Spring Break is near! These are the top party destinations. These are the top spring break travel mistakes to avoid. And here's where you can find Spring Break deals for tropical hotels.
Looking for a travel agent? Click here for six great ways to find the perfect one for you.
Advice from an Agent
Ryan Doncsecz is the Groups Manager at VIP Vacations Inc. based in Bethlehem, PA. He can be reached at [email protected]
When asked what advice he would give travelers considering big and or small group travel, Doncsecz said:
"For bigger groups, I completely recommend finalizing group contracts with the resort you have in mind. Some resort brands like Karisma or even Sandals can lock in a contract for as little as 5 rooms (other international destinations ask for 10 room minimum). By setting up a contract you lock in and guarantee rates for guests, as well as secure space giving your guests a set amount of time to "book into the group." You won't have to worry about these rooms selling out, and you'll never have a friend or family member talking about "how much less money Aunt Eleanor is paying;" the rates are fixed and confirmed ahead of time.
"Next, when booking these contracts, the group leaders often earn perks from free nights to upgrades. If you are planning on traveling with 5 or more rooms, I highly recommend going the group route to get the most amenities for your special trip.
"Finally, trust a group travel specialist. Agents have different specialties from destinations to the type of traveler. Groups can be a tough task for a singular agent to work sometimes. Do your research and check reviews for a recommended agency or agent."
When asked what advice he would give travel agents and advisors who sell group travel and those who are looking to sell more group travel, Doncsecz said:
"You must be available for the group leaders. In this day in age, people want instant satisfaction and gratification. If you aren't willing to give a timely response to a potential group leader (wedding couple perhaps?), these group leaders will look elsewhere. I don't love giving out my cell phone number to clients, but group leaders are very important people to please. I've noticed there is no quicker way to grow business than by doing a good job and getting referrals. Group travel is a unique niche where clients want that guidance and ask others for recommended agents.
"Once groups are booked, make sure to have some sort of checklist system for important dates (releasing rooms, paying balances, sending air info, passing out docs, etc.). These timelines are very important! I also recommend taking the "due dates" that resorts and tour operators may give you and padding them a bit with some extra time to give yourself a safe buffer. If a hotel is asking for all rooms released on June 20, 2019, I recommend having multiple reminders not only for June 20 but also that you tell clients June 10 to help give you time to finalize.
"Lastly, work ahead as much as possible. The hotel is requesting a room release in three weeks? Contact your wedding couple and see who is still pending to get into the group, and how we can urge them along a bit to commit! Another example can be shown when sending out client documents. Sending out travel confirmations to a big group can be very time-consuming. If you have all of your ducks in a row, get those confirmations out so the guests can start thinking of their pre-travel questions."
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