Hotelbeds’ Bertrand Sava on Gen Z and travel agents in the 21st century travel landscape
The put up Hotelbeds’ Bertrand Sava on Gen Z and travel agents in the 21st century travel landscape appeared first on TD (Journey Each day Media) Travel Daily Media.
Bertrand Sava, basic supervisor for retail and journey businesses for HBX Group’s Hotelbeds, was a part of a panel on the not too long ago concluded MarketHub 2025 commerce convention which mentioned key tendencies occurring within the sector, significantly throughout the Asia Pacific.
Sava, in addition to different HBX officers, identified that, removed from turning into out of date, journey businesses and their brokers are thriving nicely this present day.
On this unique interview, Save shares additional insights with Journey Each day Media’s personal Gary Marshall.
Journey Each day Media (TDM) Proper now, journey brokers are in, I believe you used the phrase, a re-emergence of the journey businesses; and also you additionally commented that journey brokers are misunderstood; so, let’s simply contact on these two subjects, if we might.
Bertrand Sava (BertS) Let’s begin with the misunderstanding about journey brokers, I might say.
Truly, the instance I gave you, is my very own case; I imply, I’m comparatively new to this business, right here for 3 years now.
Once I was invited to hitch [HBX Group] to take that function as its retail basic supervisor, I used to be actually fascinated 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’s shocking is that what is definitely fueling that progress is just not solely transactions from the older generations that used to make use of journey businesses usually, however from the Gen Z, which is one thing that individuals might take into account a bit bit shocking.
Certainly, 40 % of Gen Z are conscious that they’re counting on journey brokers at any time when they e-book their journeys.
They actually 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 of the extra, significantly the add-ons, the hidden gems they wouldn’t have discovered about.
They worth all that extra than simply the full value of the journey, and that’s precisely the place journey brokers should be at.
Within the context of overtourism
TDM Okay;now, let’s contact on that phrase over-tourism.
My assumption, and I might be flawed right here, is that this Gen Z, to make use of your phrases, is searching for extra experiential locations, possibly even getting out of the large cities and so forth.
Are they simply tapping into the journey brokers for one more stage of experience about the place to go that’s past the large cities?
BertS I believe that it’s balanced, proper; because on one hand, they prefer to go the place they’ll have that put up, that image, that selfie, and due to this fact that’s relying a bit a lot on over-tourism.
Alternatively, additionally they desire to do solo journey, that uniqueness that they’re ; so I believe 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 because the common sights, proper?
TDM You made a remark this morning, and it was so telling: 65 % of vacationers really feel overwhelmed.
And I favored that saying: An excessive amount of info kills info.
BertS Yeah, it was really a French journalist who mentioned that.
However I find it irresistible, as a result of there usually actually is an excessive amount of info.
That’s what occurs while you wish to e-book someplace and even if you happen to’re simply looking,
You get bombarded by presents; there’s simply an excessive amount of info, and it simply feels overwhelming.
TDM So lots of these Gen Zs are literally utilizing social media of some form.
You additionally made a remark saying a journey company or agent must be the place the shoppers are.
However, to be extra particular, on what kind of platform do you suppose they should be primarily based in your analysis?
BertS Properly, I imply, you recognize, it’s social media, it’s journey blogs, it’s opinions posted on-line, even prompt messaging platforms.
These are all of the platforms that Gen Z is utilizing lately; and, for journey brokers, that’s the place they should be.
In addition they should be energetic, posting, reacting, and showcasing, as a result of they’re actually making a relationship with shoppers even earlier than they present up on the door, and that’s crucial as we speak.
Being service oriented will get outcomes
BertS I believe that profitable journey brokers have at all times centered on wonderful customer support.
When you give nice customer support, you should have a successful enterprise.
I imply, you need your clients to return again, and they’ll come again in the event that they know that you’re going that further 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 within the session that clients are keen to spend 67 % extra if the expertise is price it.
Now, are you speaking in regards to the expertise with the journey brokers or in regards to the precise expertise on the vacation spot?
BertS I used to be talking of that usually.
As a shopper, you’re able to spend extra if the gross sales expertise is price it, proper?
Now, if the gross sales expertise is sweet, the value is much less vital.
Statistically, Gen Zs hunt down luxurious lodging, and it’s like each two out of three, proper? Wherein case, they’re imply, they’re searching for one thing distinctive, one thing that basically fits their tastes.
One other fascinating statistic is that Gen Z really spends 20 % greater than the common traveller.
So, if it’s price it, they’ll do it.
TDM I additionally favored what was mentioned earlier as we speak whereby a woman on one of many panels mentioned that the oldest technology was all “Let’s work now, then journey later.”
BertS However Gen Z needs their journey time now, not after they retire, and they’ll repeat the expertise.
That’s why they suppose it’s price it, and likewise why they’ll fortunately pay up for it.
About Bertrand Sava
A French nationwide, Bertrand Sava has been basic supervisor for retail and journey businesses for HBX Group subsidiary Hotelbeds since March 2022.
He has a well-demonstrated historical past of working within the info expertise and providers business.
As such, he’s extremely expert within 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.