SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - November 03, 2015) - As Europe copes with chaos on its borders and refugees are streaming out of disintegrating Sinai and Red Sea states, travelers to most parts of the world remain undaunted. A recent survey by the Travel Leaders network of travel advisors reveals that despite the instability roiling around the Mediterranean, North American travelers are still heading to Europe and Islamic State-sponsored terrorism is not on their minds.
The national poll surveyed more than 1000 travel agency owners in August. Among the questions: "Please compare your non-luxury Europe land-based bookings to this time last year." Some 49.5% of the agents stated bookings were higher, 37.8% indicated bookings were on par with last year and 12.7% stated bookings to Europe were lower.
When asked, "Please compare your luxury-focused Europe land-based bookings to this time last year," 44.9% of those agents stated bookings were higher, 41.8% indicated bookings were on par with last year and 13.3% stated bookings to Europe were lower.
The story is featured as part of the latest issue of Tours.com's Travel-Intel, which is written by travel industry journalists to keep tabs on moving trends in travel.
Added to the line-up this week is a study by Choice Hotels that delves into the needs and wants of millennials when it comes to travel and hospitality. Among their findings: Having fun is at that top of the list as 12% of millennials have admitted to quitting their job to take a vacation or go to an event such as a concert. They also want their rewards now. Nearly half (43%) the millennials polled believe customers should receive their first rewards program benefit as soon as they sign up. Saving for the future is not a priority as 33% of millennials said they would put off buying a home to take a dream vacation. And image may be everything in a response that found 27% of those polled admitting to having stayed in a hotel just to impress someone.
Travel-Intel is a publication that goes out weekly to more than 103,000 sellers of travel. It is also posted online at Tours.com. The publication reports from travel conferences and expos, as well as popular hotels, exotic resorts, cruise ships and ports, and destinations near and far with stories that feature the latest Intel on travel. Current issues and archives can be viewed at www.travel-intel.com.
This week's issue also features a look at Villa Manzu. The resort is actually a complete 30,000 square foot mansion with butler service, private pools over the Pacific, a private beach cove and room to sleep 22 guests in complete luxury. Yoga in the mornings, mixology in the afternoons, destination wedding weekends find their perfect spot. Villa Manzu is an easy hop from Liberia, a vacation gateway near Costa Rica's border with Nicaragua. The resort -- once a writing lair and working farm owned by author Sinclair Lewis -- features only 20 accommodations and each has its own cozy design. The resort is a member of the exclusive Kurtz-Ahlers collection of luxury hotels, resorts and destination specialists.
In other stories, Travel-Intel takes its first looks at Hawaii's fifth Four Seasons Resort, which is set to open on Oahu this January. Four Seasons Resort O'ahu at Ko Olina on the western, Sunset Coast of Oahu will feature 358 guestrooms, 52 suites and plenty of beach, pool and spa time in its location adjacent to the Disney Aulani Resort. The Four Seasons executed a top down redo of the former JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at that location.
The publication also heads to New Mexico for a round up of what is new and noteworthy in the Santa Fe area, with new hotels, wellness centers, restaurants and art exhibits.
Finally, as the Thanksgiving holidays approach, Travel-Intel offers the scoop on airfares: what destinations are popular and what destinations are affordable.
"Travel-Intel helps travel advisors keep up with the trends: where people are going, what travelers are demanding. In addition, it sheds light on new resorts and new old resorts as destinations are always upgrading and changing," says Lark Gould, content director for Travel-Intel and Tours.com.
As a veteran travel journalist who has been covering the travel industry for more than 20 years, Gould puts her incisive perspective into the weekly publication, with features and news updates, and also "packages" issues that present great travel deals to be found at hotels and resort locations worldwide. Travel-Intel can be viewed as a stand-alone site on Tours.com. Gould publishes travel columns and stories for Barclay's Travel Community, the Washington Times, Business Travel Executive, and Business Traveler USA, as well as eTravel.news and Larkslist.
Tours.com is The Only Worldwide Directory of Tours and Vacations. The most comprehensive tour and travel directory Tours.com is celebrating its 20th anniversary as an authority website, which launched 1995.
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