Better Times Not Far Away for Canadian Travel, Agents Group Says

April 27, 2021 Jim Byers

A Canadian travel boom may be closer than we think.

Travel Leaders Network, a global travel agency network that’s very strong in Canada, held a media event on Tuesday that was filled with optimism.

Canada lags behind the US and other countries in terms of vaccinations, but network officials said the improving inoculation rate for Canadians is making a difference.

“What I’m hearing from our members is that their clients are actually reaching out to them, those who have been vaccinated are reaching out to book a trip,” said Christine James, Vice President, Canada, TL Network.

James said one of their top members conducted a survey of 6,000 clients last month and that more than 60% of them said they’ll book a trip as soon as they get their vaccine.

James said TL Network bookings are at about 30% of 2019 levels but that that should increase as vaccines roll out. She also noted that 2022 bookings are about equal to 2019 levels and that, in some cases, especially for cruises, Canada is actually ahead of 2019 levels.

“We’re starting to see us coming out of this very dark place,” Travel Leaders Network President Roger Block said. “I know as soon as Canada opens up there’s going to be a boom in travel. People are going to places that are open like never before.”

Lindsay Pearlman, Senior Vice President, International Leisure, Travel Leaders Network, said Canadians have a way to go to catch up with our American allies.

“But when the governments in the UK and US started to open things up a bit, that’s when you saw that curve go up exponentially,” he said.

Travel Leaders Group President John Lovell said he thinks there could be a mid-summer restart for North American homeport cruises.

“I’m pretty optimistic about the industry,” Lovell said. “I think it’s going to come back a little sooner than people anticipate.”

James said she’s encouraged by Ontario’s latest COVID numbers.

“If that trend continues …. I think that will do a lot to consumer confidence in general, and also motivate the government to lift or lighten some of these restrictions.”

James said the usual sun destinations are quite popular for bookings, including Mexico, the DR and Cuba. She also said that 80% of bookings are seeing people paying for upgrades or even staying an extra week to relax. Group trips also are big right now.

“People used to dream about bucket lists; now they’re booking them,” Block said.

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