Avoid crowds and the highest prices during peak travel seasons by traveling during shoulder season.

It’s been a message the industry has been focused on for years, especially during the post-Covid travel boom and after reports of some of the hottest summers on record in choice destinations.

A new survey from Travelsavers and the Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel (NEST) found evidence that travelers are taking the message to heart.

Travelsavers and NEST agencies were surveyed in April and May, and 32% of respondents reported their shoulder season bookings were up compared to the same time period last year.

More specifically, 12% said shoulder season bookings were up 10% or more from the year prior, while 20% said they were up between 1% and 9%.

Another 35% said shoulder season bookings were comparable with last year, while 27% said shoulder season bookings were down (16% said they were down 1%-9%, while 11% said they were down 10% or more). Six percent said they don’t have a shoulder season because sales are consistent throughout the year.

Last-minute bookings up

The survey also found evidence that some Travelsavers and NEST affiliates are experiencing a popular trend this year: last-minute bookings.

In total, 20% of the survey’s respondents said they are experiencing more last-minute bookings than usual. Another 40% reported seeing a normal amount of last-minute bookings, while 40% are not seeing last-minute bookings this year.

Take Travel Weekly’s survey

Travel Weekly is currently conducting its own survey, and one of the areas it delves into is booking windows this year compared to last year. It’s still in the earlier stages of being fielded, but indications point to much shorter booking windows this year.

If you haven’t taken the poll yet, please take a few minutes to let us know how your travel business is doing this year. It’s still open to all travel advisors and agency owners/managers and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.