Tanya Mark of Tisson Travel Group and Lori Smith of Wanderlori Travel talk trends and sunny escapes
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you specialize in?
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you specialize in?
TM: I’m Tanya Mark, a Travel Advisor and Certified Travel Professional with Fill Your Bucket List Travel, based in Alberta. I’ve been in the travel industry for over seven years, and my focus is helping clients turn those “someday” trips into actual travel plans. I specialize in customized vacations, all-inclusive resorts, cruises, small-group travel, family vacations and bucket-list experiences. I work with a lot of families and groups, but I also have clients looking for adults-only getaways, milestone trips, luxury experiences and simply an easy escape from a Canadian winter. For me, it’s not just about finding a vacation at the lowest price. It’s about understanding what a client actually wants from their time away and matching them with the right destination, resort, room and experience.
LS: I live in rural southeast Saskatchewan, and before travel, I worked in oilfield administration. Once our kids had graduated and moved out, I decided it was time for a career change and to do something I genuinely loved. I found TTAND, took the leap, and more than 10 years later, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I specialize in beaches and bucket list travel. I’m a beach lover myself, so all-inclusive sun vacations were a natural place for my business to start and remain the bread and butter of what I do. The bucket list side grew naturally from there. As I started checking more destinations and experiences off my own travel to-do list, many of my clients were also ready to take some of the bigger trips they’d been talking about for years. Europe and European river cruising are a big part of that, along with those “someday” trips that are finally making it onto their priority list.
What are clients looking for most when booking a sun getaway right now, and has that changed from previous years?
TM: Clients are still looking for value, but I think the definition of value has changed. It isn’t necessarily about finding the absolute cheapest vacation anymore. People want a vacation that feels worth the money. They’re looking at things like food quality, beach quality, room categories, service, activities, airport transfers and what is actually included in the package. I’m also seeing clients put more thought into the overall experience. They want to know what the resort is really like, whether it will suit their family or travel style, and whether there are things to do beyond sitting around the pool.
LS: More than anything, my clients are looking for good value – the best overall vacation experience they can get for what they’re comfortable spending. That’s always mattered, but with the cost of everything increasing, clients have become more discerning about what they’re getting for their money. I’m having more conversations now around priorities — what really matters to them, where they’re willing to compromise and where they’re not. Sometimes clients come in with an idea of what their budget should buy based on what they’ve paid in previous years, and that doesn’t line up with today’s pricing.
Which sun destinations are generating the most interest among your clients and what’s driving that demand? Is flight time a factor?
TM: Mexico and the Caribbean continue to be very popular with my clients, particularly destinations such as Riviera Maya, Cancun, Punta Cana, Jamaica and Curaçao.
Flight time absolutely plays a role, especially for families. If someone only has seven days away, they don’t necessarily want to spend a huge portion of that time travelling.
At the same time, I’m finding that clients are willing to travel farther when the destination or resort offers something they really want. For example, some clients will choose a longer flight for a particular beach, resort experience, family-friendly amenities or a destination that has been on their bucket list for years.
LS: Mexico continues to be number one for my clients, followed by the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Flight time isn’t as much of a factor for my clients as having a direct flight. For my Western Canadian clients, where our nonstop options are more limited, those routes absolutely drive demand. Connections can complicate things when you’re travelling during a Canadian winter. I’m also seeing growing interest in Costa Rica and Belize, particularly from clients looking for a little more adventure and a vacation that goes beyond the resort. Expanded flight options are helping drive that interest as well.
Do you find that clients want a particular hotel brand or island or are they open to suggestions?
TM: It really depends on the client. Some people are extremely loyal to a particular hotel brand because they know what to expect and have had a great experience there.
Others come to me saying, “We just want somewhere warm with a great beach and good food,” and they’re very open to suggestions.
That’s where having a travel advisor can make a big difference. There are so many resorts that look fantastic online, but the details matter. A resort that is perfect for one family may be completely wrong for another.
LS: For the most part, my clients are very open to suggestions. I definitely have clients who know and love a particular resort brand or have their heart set on a specific island or destination, but more often they’re telling me what they’re looking for and asking for my recommendations.
More people are coming to me specifically because they want help narrowing down the choices. The overwhelm is real. There are so many resorts, brands, places – and opinions – out there, and more information doesn’t always make the decision easier.
I travel frequently to the destinations I sell most and do as many resort site inspections as I can, both to revisit properties I know and to discover new ones. My clients know I’ll give them my candid opinion about what I’ve seen and experienced, and they appreciate that.
Are you finding that clients want to get off the resort while on vacation? Which types of excursions are popular?
TM: Definitely. I’m seeing more interest in experiencing the destination rather than spending the entire vacation on the resort.
Popular excursions tend to be a mix of sightseeing, culture, food, nature and adventure. Clients are interested in things like cenotes and Mayan sites in Mexico, catamaran trips, snorkelling, island tours, waterfalls, local food experiences and wildlife or nature excursions.
I also find that clients are looking for excursions that are convenient and don’t take up their entire vacation. They want to experience something memorable but still have plenty of time to relax.
LS: Most of my clients do at least one fun excursion during their vacation. Snorkelling, catamaran tours and adventure parks are always popular, and I’m seeing more interest in deep-sea fishing as well. More clients want to experience the destination beyond the resort. They want to learn a little about the history and culture and do things that are unique to where they’re visiting. I’m seeing growing interest in food tours and cooking classes too.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions clients have about booking an all-inclusive vacation?
TM: One of the biggest misconceptions is that all-inclusive means everything is included.
It doesn’t necessarily mean every restaurant, room category, excursion, transfer, premium beverage or activity is included. The definition of all-inclusive can vary quite a bit from one resort to another. Another misconception is that all resorts in the same destination are essentially the same. They really aren’t. Beaches can be completely different, resort layouts vary, some are better for families while others are designed for adults, and the overall atmosphere can be very different. I also think people sometimes underestimate the value of having someone who knows the differences between properties. A vacation can be expensive, and choosing the wrong resort can have a big impact on the experience.
LS: One of the biggest misconceptions is that once you’ve paid for an all-inclusive, you need to stay on the resort all week to get your money’s worth. The appeal of an all-inclusive is the ease of it — nobody has to plan meals, cook or clean, and even Mom gets a vacation. But you can still get out and experience the destination without somehow wasting what you’ve paid for.
The other big misconception is that “all-inclusive” means roughly the same thing from one resort to another. It really doesn’t. One resort might offer unlimited à la carte dining, premium liquor and 24-hour room service, while another may restrict dining, not offer room service at all, or reserve certain amenities and areas for upgraded room categories. Even things like pool and beach service aren’t a given. Those little details can make a big difference to someone’s vacation, and they’re often things people don’t know to ask about until they’ve experienced it firsthand.
Are you seeing clients spend more on upgrades or premium room categories?
TM: Yes, particularly when the upgrade provides something clients can actually see and use.
I’m seeing interest in swim-up rooms, preferred or club-level categories, larger family accommodations, oceanfront or ocean-view rooms and suites.
Clients are becoming more conscious about how they spend their vacation dollars. They don’t necessarily want to upgrade just for the sake of having a fancier room, but if the upgrade provides better location, additional services, a private pool, lounge access or more space for a family, they’re often willing to pay for it.
LS: Absolutely. I’m getting more requests for upgraded room categories, and swim-up rooms in particular seem to be the hot commodity right now. Oceanfront rooms and preferred or club-level categories are also high on the list.
For some clients, the room category or upgraded experience has become important enough that it influences which resort they choose. They’ll sometimes choose a different resort within their budget to get the swim-up or premium category they really want.
What’s one sun destination or resort experience you think deserves more attention from Canadian travellers right now?
TM: Curaçao is a destination I think deserves more attention. It offers something a little different from the traditional Caribbean vacation, with beautiful beaches, colourful architecture, great snorkelling and a strong local culture.
It can also be a really interesting option for travellers who want a combination of resort relaxation and getting out to explore.
I think there is a growing appetite for destinations that offer more than just a beautiful beach, and Curaçao fits that really well.
LS: I’m going to make a case for the Mexican Caribbean. I think it’s easy to overlook just how much it offers. Cancun has exceptionally good nonstop access from cities across Canada, including many smaller cities where flight options are more limited. There’s a tendency to say, “I’ve already been to Mexico,” as though it’s a one-and-done destination. What sets it apart for me is how different one trip can be from the next. From Playa Mujeres and the Cancun Hotel Zone to Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Tulum, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, the beaches, atmosphere, resorts and experiences can be completely different depending on where you stay and what you’re looking for. Add in the range of resorts and price points and everything there is to do beyond the resort, and you can go back many times without simply repeating the same vacation. There’s a reason the Mexican Caribbean continues to be the biggest sun destination I sell.
Do you have anything to add?
TM: I think the biggest thing I would encourage travellers to do is to think about what they actually want their vacation to feel like before they start shopping. Two resorts can have the same star rating and completely different experiences. Are you looking for quiet and relaxing? A great kids’ club? Nightlife? A beautiful beach? Amazing food? Lots of activities? A luxury experience? A resort where you can walk out the door and explore? Those details matter.
My job isn’t just to find a vacation. It’s to listen to what my clients are looking for, use my experience to narrow down the options and help them choose something that fits them. That’s especially valuable when you’re spending thousands of dollars on a week or two away.
LS: Exploring my way through the Caribbean is genuinely one of my favourite things to do, and I almost always have a new island on my calendar. But one thing I’ve learned over the years is that the best vacation isn’t necessarily the most exotic one.
For a lot of my clients, that week away is something they look forward to all winter – a chance to soak up the sun, with everything else taken care of. When you’re travelling from a smaller Canadian city with limited air access, the destination that’s easiest to get to and offers the best overall value can be exactly the right choice.
