This article originally appeared in the December issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
The end of the year is a busy time for travel advisors. You have two goals: Finish strong in 2025 by meeting or exceeding your sales targets, and set the stage for success in 2026.
Wrapping Up 2025
First, I suggest you wrap up any professional development courses from 2025 that are unfinished. It’s easy to let them fall by the wayside when you’re swamped with daily trip-planning tasks. Don’t let those courses drag over into the new year, though, because there’ll be new ones to start in 2026.
Then, do a deep dive into your business data from 2025 to see if you spot any trends. Do you notice changes in the types of vacations your clients booked, the duration of their trips or the amount of money they spent? Were there any new destinations or experiences that were popular? All of this will give you insight into your clients’ mindsets moving forward.
Strengthening Your Outreach
Examine your marketing, including your use of social media. Make sure the online information about your agency is current. Look at what worked — and what didn’t. Take note of the posts that received the most engagement.
Make sure clients hear from you at the end of the year, perhaps with a holiday note thanking them for their business and telling them about the trends that excite you for 2026. Let them know about any last-minute deals that may entice them to book a trip in the new year — or even in the last month of 2025.
It’s also a good time to reconnect with clients who haven’t booked a vacation in the past year; you may find they’ve been thinking about a vacation in 2026.
Inspiring New Year Bookings
You can contact clients again in mid-January, perhaps timed with National Plan for Vacation Day, which takes place on the last Tuesday of the month. Relate the importance of taking time off during the year for physical and mental well-being, and the necessity of planning early for that dream vacation. Tell them about the best deals you’re seeing, especially those that cruise lines are offering for Wave season.
Finally, before the curtain falls on 2025, take a moment to look back with pride at what you’ve accomplished — and write out your goals for travel bookings, professional development and personal fulfillment in 2026.
Travel is a constantly changing business. But, with a firm plan and the adaptability that comes with experience, you’ll be ready to meet the challenges of the new year.
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