The put up Hotelbeds’ Bertrand Sava on Gen Z and travel agents in the 21st century travel landscape appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.
Bertrand Sava, common supervisor for retail and travel companies for HBX Group’s Hotelbeds, was a part of a panel at the lately concluded MarketHub 2025 commerce convention which mentioned key tendencies occurring in the sector, significantly inside the Asia Pacific.
Sava, in addition to different HBX officers, identified that, removed from changing into out of date, travel companies and their agents are thriving effectively in this present day and age.
In this unique interview, Save shares additional insights with Travel Daily Media’s personal Gary Marshall.
Travel Daily Media (TDM) Right now, travel agents are in, I feel you used the phrase, a re-emergence of the travel companies; and you additionally commented that travel agents are misunderstood; so, let’s simply contact on these two matters, if we might.
Bertrand Sava (BertS) Let’s begin with the misunderstanding about travel agents, I’d say.
Actually, the instance I gave you, is my very own case; I imply, I’m comparatively new to this trade, right here for 3 years now.
When I used to be invited to hitch [HBX Group] to take that function as its retail common supervisor, I used to be actually excited about whether or not or not there was an actual and thriving enterprise and rising enterprise; and certainly, there was and it’s nonetheless rising.
What is stunning is that what is definitely fueling that development will not be solely transactions from the older generations that used to make use of travel companies usually, however from the Gen Z, which is one thing that folks might take into account a bit of bit stunning.
Indeed, 40 p.c of Gen Z are conscious that they’re relying on travel agents at any time when they e-book their journeys.
They really need one thing distinctive, one thing that connects to their values.
Gen Z actually needs one thing that fits them in order that they worth the expertise all the extra, significantly the add-ons, the hidden gems they wouldn’t have came upon about.
They worth all that extra than simply the complete value of the journey, and that’s precisely the place travel agents should be at.
In the context of overtourism
TDM Okay;now, let’s contact on that phrase over-tourism.
My assumption, and I may very well be flawed right here, is that this Gen Z, to make use of your phrases, is in search of extra experiential locations, possibly even getting out of the massive cities and so forth.
Are they simply tapping into the travel agents for an additional stage of experience about the place to go that’s past the massive cities?
BertS I feel that it’s balanced, proper; because on one hand, they prefer to go the place they will have that put up, that image, that selfie, and due to this fact that’s relying a bit a lot on over-tourism.
On the different hand, in addition they want to do solo travel, that uniqueness that they’re ; so I feel they’re additionally open to the potential options to the over-tourism which can contain travelling low season or going to locations that aren’t as well-known as the common points of interest, proper?
TDM You made a remark this morning, and it was so telling: 65 p.c of vacationers really feel overwhelmed.
And I favored that saying: Too a lot data kills data.
BertS Yeah, it was really a French journalist who stated that.
But I adore it, as a result of there typically actually is an excessive amount of data.
That’s what occurs if you wish to e-book someplace and even in case you’re simply looking out,
You get bombarded by gives; there’s simply an excessive amount of data, and it simply feels overwhelming.
TDM So a number of these Gen Zs are literally utilizing social media of some variety.
You additionally made a remark saying a travel company or agent must be the place the clients are.
But, to be extra particular, on what kind of platform do you suppose they must be primarily based on your analysis?
BertS Well, I imply, you realize, it’s social media, it’s travel blogs, it’s opinions posted on-line, even prompt messaging platforms.
Those are all the platforms that Gen Z is utilizing as of late; and, for travel agents, that’s the place they should be.
They additionally should be lively, posting, reacting, and showcasing, as a result of they’re actually making a relationship with purchasers even earlier than they present up at the door, and that’s crucial right now.
Being service oriented will get outcomes
BertS I feel that profitable travel agents have at all times centered on wonderful customer support.
If you give nice customer support, you’ll have a profitable enterprise.
I imply, you need your clients to return again, and they are going to come again in the event that they know that you’re going that additional mile they want in some instances.
Then they are going to come again for the subsequent one, and the subsequent one after that; so this is essential.
TDM You made a remark in the session that clients are prepared to spend 67 p.c extra if the expertise is price it.
Now, are you speaking about the expertise with the travel agents or about the precise expertise at the vacation spot?
BertS I used to be talking of that in common.
As a client, you’re able to spend extra if the gross sales expertise is price it, proper?
Now, if the gross sales expertise is sweet, the worth is much less vital.
Statistically, Gen Zs hunt down luxurious lodging, and it’s like each two out of three, proper? In which case, they’re imply, they’re looking for one thing distinctive, one thing that actually fits their tastes.
Another attention-grabbing statistic is that Gen Z really spends 20 p.c greater than the common traveller.
So, if it’s price it, they’ll do it.
TDM I additionally favored what was stated earlier right now whereby a girl on one among the panels stated that the oldest technology was all “Let’s work now, then travel later.”
BertS But Gen Z needs their travel time now, not after they retire, and they are going to repeat the expertise.
That’s why they suppose it’s price it, and additionally why they’ll fortunately pay up for it.
About Bertrand Sava
A French nationwide, Bertrand Sava has been common supervisor for retail and travel companies for HBX Group subsidiary Hotelbeds since March 2022.
He has a well-demonstrated historical past of working in the data expertise and providers trade.
As such, he’s extremely expert in the fields of banking, gross sales administration, in addition to monetary applied sciences (fintech.)
The put up Hotelbeds’ Bertrand Sava on Gen Z and travel agents in the 21st century travel landscape appeared first on Travel Daily Media.
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