U.S. travel slows but Caribbean and European bookings are strong
The president of the Nexion Travel Group is confident Canadians will continue to explore our often turbulent world throughout 2025. Jackie Friedman says Nexion’s Canadian agencies are reporting that interest in travel remains high, although travel preferences are often changing.
“We’re seeing they’re travelling. Some of them are changing where they’re travelling,” Friedman, a Toronto native now living in Dallas said during a recent visit to her hometown.
The overwhelming majority of travel advisors affiliated with Nexion, which promotes itself as the travel industry’s premier host travel agency, didn’t report any slowdown in bookings or cancellations of travel plans during a Nexion survey. However, political tensions between the United States and Canada, as well as a weaker Canadian dollar, are affecting where people are going, with Mexico, the Dominican and Jamaica among destinations now doing well out of Canada, and interest in Europe on the upswing. Luxury European river cruises are also seeing heightened interest.
Nexion Advisors are reporting they’re seeing last-minute bookings for river cruises in Europe, as clients seek to avoid sailing out of cruise ports in the United States. Many clients say they’re leery about crossing the U.S. border for fear of how they will be treated.
Reasons most frequently cited for changed travel plans are geopolitical concerns, identified by 58% of respondents to the Nexion survey; economic uncertainty, named by 47%; and currency conversion, cited by 45%. However, travel advisors indicated that these factors have not significantly impacted their overall business activity.
“We understand from this survey of our Canadian members that there are broader concerns affecting travel,” said Friedman. “Despite those issues, Nexion travel advisors are still seeing steady demand from their leisure and business clients, who are planning and booking a variety of trips.”
“It’s true we need to diversify the market… but we cannot leave the Canadian market behind…,” Garcia Granda told a Canadian delegation during the show while announcing that the Varadero event will be dedicated to this country. “I always love to say Canadians have more friends in Cuba than they do in Canada.”
Garcia Granda acknowledged the Cuban economy has been struggling but pointed to a number of positive developments, including the reopening of a tourism school.
Earlier, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz told show delegates his government will give tourism its fullest attention.
Marrero Cruz, speaking during the opening of FITCuba, acknowledged his country has had to contend with economic challenges and said tourism is critical in helping overcome them.
“Tourism has a role to play in the recovery of the Cuban economy, ” he told his Havana audience.
Marrero Cruz blamed many of the economic problems on American policies aimed at stifling Cuban tourism, policies he noted prevent American hotel companies from entering Cuba and pressured American cruise companies to drop Cuban ports.
Nexion — affiliated with Travel Leaders Network — now has about 600 agents across the country, with Friedman reporting that Nexion is seeing steady growth in this country, generally adding eight to 12 members a month. Friedman, who recently promoted Esther Roemmele to director operations, Canada replacing the now-retired Mike Foster, said she can envision Nexion having 1,000 Canadian members within five years. Nexion is planning what Friedman says will be “more significant events” in this country for its members, with multi-day events in the works.
Nexion’s Canadian growth is in part attributed to its in-depth training program which takes approximately 3 months to complete. “We offer a blend of self-paced online modules, instructor led, virtual training and in-person events for advisors of every experience level.”
The self-pacing aspect is welcomed by those taking the program, with Esther Roemmele, adding that it, “makes them very comfortable.”
Friedman in turn said Nexion is committed to ensuring that advisors who join it receive “the training they need to be successful.”
Nexion is an outspoken promoter of travel advisors, saying they provide crucial assistance in planning leisure and business trips, and most importantly peace of mind. “We know that people seek out our Nexion travel advisors because of the value they provide,” Friedman added. “Many of our advisors have been in the business for more than a decade and they have a wealth of knowledge that they put to work for their clients. From leisure vacations to ocean and river cruises, escorted tours and corporate travel, Nexion’s professional travel advisors are experts at planning any type of trip.”
All travel professionals interested in learning how to succeed as a professional business owner, backed by Nexion Travel Group’s many benefits, can call 866-399-9989 or email [email protected].
