Education, training, and technology help network of independent advisors soar past pre-pandemic levels with over $300 million in travel sold.
Delray Beach, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2022) – The world’s largest host travel agency, InteleTravel, reached a new record in the company’s 30-year history with over $300 million in traveled sales in 2021. The all-time high marks a 30 percent increase over InteleTravel’s pre-pandemic sales in 2019, and early metrics point to an even greater 2022.
Despite cruise sales being down more than 80 percent last year for the host travel agency, InteleTravel and its network of independent travel advisors adapted and experienced a significant spike in land-based sales and short-haul vacations as travelers increasingly booked all-inclusive resorts, hotels, guided tours, and activities in destinations like Miami, Las Vegas, San Juan, Honolulu, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Montego Bay.
All-inclusive resorts have continued to be a hot seller into this year. In January 2022, InteleTravel's all-inclusive resort vacation sales were up over 200 percent, versus the same time period last year. Additionally, the company anticipates cruise sales to begin increasing by the end of March.
“Cruise bookings typically account for around 40 percent of our annual sales, and yet we recovered past pre-pandemic levels,” said James Ferrara, President of InteleTravel. “To see what our advisors and employees achieved is truly remarkable when considering all the obstacles the travel industry has faced these last two years.”
As bookings soared, InteleTravel and its advisors experienced a significant increase in inquiries from new customers looking for up-to-date knowledge and professional expertise to plan their vacations amid the constant changes in travel policies and protocols. The host travel agency expects this trend to continue in 2022, which was also shown in its consumer survey results released last November with 86 percent of respondents reporting that they intend to use a travel agent to plan their trips this year.
“With consumer interest and confidence in travel agents riding high, and continuous investments in our workforce, partnerships, and resources to fully support our advisor network, we’re in a strong position to continue our upward trajectory and reach a new record this year,” said Ferrara.
Last year, InteleTravel hired 15 new full-time employees, and plans to add another 15 employees across several departments in 2022, including technology, operations, training, and education. Over the last two years, the company has not had any employee layoffs related to the pandemic, and has continued to grow its advisor network in the U.S., U.K., Caribbean, and Mexico.
In addition, InteleTravel launched several virtual events and new training programs last year to continue providing ongoing support, and free educational opportunities for the host travel agency’s network of independent advisors, including:
- Group training sessions every week featuring partners like Apple Leisure Group Vacations to provide advisors with insights and strategies on how to identify, market, and sell vacations to groups.
- Specialized events and new training programs designed to help agents explore niche marketing selling opportunities, such as luxury travel, destination weddings, and honeymoons.
- Consumer training with InteleTravel marketing for advisors directly to consumers through customized promotional emails and weekly webinars educating agents’ consumers on a destination or brand like Viking River Cruises – then directing consumers to contact and book with their agent.
- Weekly interviews with executives from partners and organizations like the Cruise Lines International Association sharing the latest information and insights with agents in InteleTravel’s private Facebook group which has over 50,000 members.
“InteleTravel has a long history of providing top-notch training, educational opportunities, and marketing tools to give our independent agents a competitive edge, and help them increase travel sales for their home-based travel business,” said Tara Minson, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at InteleTravel. “We’ve continued providing that same level of support for travel agents throughout the pandemic, while adapting many of our training and education programs to a virtual setting and creating new resources to help them succeed. And it shows with last year’s sales record, [which] we’re aiming to surpass in 2022.”
In 2022, InteleTravel will continue creating and investing in new educational opportunities and resources available at no cost for its advisor network, including specialized events and certified training programs focusing on wellness travel and millennial travel, respectively.
The host travel agency’s largest annual conference, InteleTravel Quest, will also return to an in-person format this year, while being simulcasted and accessible for virtual attendees. In August, InteleTravel is chartering an entire cruise ship with Carnival Cruise Lines to host over 3,000 agents and partners at sea for one of the industry’s biggest and most comprehensive training and networking events of the year. While the event’s complete itinerary and the full list of high-profile keynote speakers are still in development at this time, the annual conference has already sold out.
Last year, InteleTravel Quest was hosted virtually for over 3,000 attendees and featured more than 80 virtual product training and sales skills seminars, digital trade shows with leading travel suppliers, exclusive shows by the top cruise entertainers, and special guests Dr. Calvin Johnson from Royal Caribbean and Captain Kate McCue from Celebrity Cruises.
About InteleTravel
InteleTravel is the world’s oldest and largest host travel agency with a growing network of more than 70,000 independent home-based advisors across the U.S., U.K., Caribbean, and Mexico. The company is recognized by every major travel supplier, including every resort and hotel brand, cruise line, vacation company, car rental agency, and tour operator in the world. Over the course of its 30-year history, InteleTravel has become known for its leadership in travel sales, robust preferred supplier relationships, innovative agent education programs, and innovative travel technology. For more information, visit www.InteleTravel.com.
