WELCOME
Hello,
Welcome to TCT’s monthly newsletter.
Last month, I asked a number of travel company buyers a simple question: when contracting accommodation, are you happy to work with dynamic pricing, or do you require static rates?
I asked because the question had come up in a conversation with a hotel evaluating TCT, and rather than assume I knew the answer, I thought it would be much more useful to ask buyers themselves.
The responses were fascinating.
Some buyers can work with dynamic rates, either generally or in certain circumstances. Others prefer static rates but can accommodate both. And for some, static rates are essential because of the way they build, price and sell their programmes.
What I found particularly interesting was the reasoning behind the answers. Brochure production, long contracting lead times, group travel, tailor-made quotations, selling through travel agents and simply being able to give customers price certainty all play a part.
It was a good reminder that identifying a travel company that sells your destination and appears relevant to your business is only the beginning. There will always be things a database cannot tell you. The real value of good sales research is putting you in a better position to identify who you should be talking to, and to have the right conversations when you do.
We’ve brought the buyer responses together in an article this month, and I hope you find their perspectives as interesting as I did.
On a separate TCT note, we’re also approaching another milestone. Our Pioneer Pricing, introduced for the early adopters who have supported TCT as we build and develop the platform, will come to an end on 31 October.
If you’ve been considering joining TCT, there are therefore still a few weeks to take advantage of Pioneer Pricing. And, as always, if you’d like to talk to me about whether TCT could be useful for your B2B sales, please do get in touch.
Happy reading and best wishes for the month ahead,
With kind regards,
Claire
BUYER INTERVIEWS
Our latest buyer interviews reinforce a consistent message: successful partnerships are built on relevance, reliability and relationships.
Across a range of travel sectors, buyers explain what they look for in new suppliers, how they evaluate potential partners, and why clear communication, responsiveness and a good operational fit often matter just as much as the product itself.
You can watch the full buyer interview series on our website to hear directly from industry buyers as they share practical insights into building successful travel trade partnerships.
What this means for you
This isn’t about changing your product. It’s about how quickly a buyer can understand where you fit. A few simple ways to adapt:
Be clear, early
Make your product, audience, and positioning obvious
at a glance
Focus on alignment
The right partners will drive more value than a long list of contacts
Think like a buyer
Can they immediately see how you fit into their existing itineraries?
TRADE SHOW CALENDAR
We’ve pulled together a trade show calendar covering the events across TCT’s source markets:
It’s designed to give you a clear view of what’s coming up, so you can plan ahead without having to piece information together from multiple sources.
Whether you’re attending, following up, or preparing outreach around these events, having the full calendar in one place makes it easier to stay organised and focus your time where it matters most.
September
| Start date | End date | Show | City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/09/2026 | 10/09/2026 | UKINBOUND Inspire | London | United Kingdom |
| 14/09/2026 | 17/09/2026 | Adventure Travel World Summit ATWS | Québec City | Canada |
October
| Start date | End date | Show | City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/10/2026 | 08/10/2026 | The Youth & Student Travel Summit | Liverpool | United Kingdom |
| 05/10/2026 | 09/10/2026 | WE ARE AFRICA North America | Sundance Mountain Resort, UT | USA |
| 08/10/2026 | 08/10/2026 | Group Leisure & Travel Show | Milton Keynes | United Kingdom |
| 13/10/2026 | 16/10/2026 | Arival | Spokane, WA | USA |
November
| Start date | End date | Show | City | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/11/2026 | 02/11/2026 | Global European Marketplace GEM | London | United Kingdom |
| 03/11/2026 | 05/11/2026 | World Travel Market – WTM London | London | United Kingdom |
| 17/11/2026 | 20/11/2026 | Luxperience | Sydney | Australia |
| 30/11/2026 | 04/12/2026 | USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace | San Francisco, CA | USA |
You can download a copy directly from our website. We will be updating the calendar on a monthly basis.
TRADE TRAVEL NEWS
CLOSER, SHORTER, MORE OFTEN: IS THE SHAPE OF THE HOLIDAY CHANGING?
The traditional annual holiday is certainly not disappearing, but recent travel data suggests it is increasingly sharing space with something different: domestic escapes, shorter breaks, road trips and more frequent getaways. Across TCT’s source markets, travellers appear to be finding different ways to keep travelling, sometimes staying closer to home or adjusting the length and style of their trips. Here is what recent reporting tells us.
Australia
Caravan and camping holidays are becoming increasingly mainstream in Australia. Australians took a record 17.3 million domestic caravan and camping trips in 2025, up 14% year on year, with working professionals, couples and families increasingly represented alongside the traditional retiree market. Almost one in seven domestic overnight trips now involves a caravan or camping experience. (Travel Weekly)
Canada
Canadian domestic travel continues to strengthen. New Statistics Canada figures reported by Global News show domestic travel increased 3.3% year on year in July, while travel across the border to the United States fell. It suggests that holidays closer to home remain an important part of Canadian travel behaviour even as international travel continues. (Global News)
Ireland
Irish travellers are also showing a slight shift towards holidays at home. New CSO figures show domestic overnight trips increased by 3% in the second quarter compared with last year, with nights spent on those trips up 5%, while overnight trips outside Ireland fell by 3%. Holidays remain the biggest reason for domestic overnight travel. (RTE)
New Zealand
Domestic travellers remain fundamental to New Zealand tourism. Recent debate over a possible accommodation levy highlighted that New Zealanders account for around two-thirds of all guest nights, with policymakers specifically concerned about adding extra costs to Kiwis taking weekends away within their own country. That scale makes the domestic traveller an important audience for hotels, attractions and regional tourism businesses alongside international visitors. (1News)
South Africa
South Africans are increasingly choosing shorter, more frequent and experience-led domestic getaways rather than relying solely on the traditional longer holiday. Recent reporting suggests this is creating new opportunities for guesthouses, boutique hotels, attractions, restaurants and activity providers able to appeal to travellers looking for accessible breaks throughout the year. (The National)
United Kingdom
Staycations continue to hold appeal for British travellers. Recent consumer data showed an increase in people choosing UK breaks this summer, with domestic holiday spending benefiting as travellers responded to a combination of convenience, cost considerations and the unusually warm weather. Domestic holidays are clearly continuing to compete for the same leisure time and budget as overseas trips. (The Intelligent)
USA
American travellers are not necessarily giving up their holidays in response to higher costs, but some are changing how they take them. Recent Bank of America research points to more “micro-vacations” and travel stacking, with consumers cutting expenditure on areas such as flights, accommodation and food while protecting the experiences they value most. (Fox Business)
SOURCE MARKET SNAPSHOT
TCT includes Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA.
New Zealand Market Current Status:
Companies
Traveller Type
Some Travel Companies cater both for Groups and for Individual Travellers
TCT is a comprehensive and dynamic database that includes detailed and constantly updated information on travel companies in your English-speaking markets.
We are the go-to solution for hotels, destination management organisations/tourist boards, tourist attractions, and all travel suppliers looking to find and connect with leisure travel companies in key markets.
Enhance your sales strategy, save time, and achieve better results with TCT.