TRAVELSAVERS survey: Canadian advisors bullish on 2026

TRAVELSAVERS Canada advisors are reporting a strong finish to 2026, citing rising sales confidence, resilient shoulder season demand, and growing interest in insurance. 

The survey results were announced during the Travel Market conference, held Sept. 24-27 in San Antonio, where travel advisors and preferred partners discussed industry trends, business growth opportunities, and the future of travel.

Advisors bullish on 2026

According to TRAVELSAVERS, the survey found that 65 per cent of advisors expect their sales to increase compared with 2025, while none anticipate a significant decline.

Shoulder season demand is also holding firm. Sixty-seven per cent of advisors say shoulder season bookings are steady or growing compared with the same period last year, including 17 per cent who report gains of 10 per cent or more.

"Our advisors are seeing firsthand what the data confirms: Canadians remain eager to travel," said Jane Clementino, Senior Vice President and General Manager, TRAVELSAVERS Canada. 

"It's less about whether clients will travel and more about helping them find the right moment and the right value. What has changed is how thoughtfully travellers are planning, from when they go to how they maximize their budgets."

Canadians booking further ahead

The survey also highlights changing booking behaviour among Canadian travellers. The most common booking window today is three to six months before departure, cited by 38 per cent of advisors.

Booking timelines are also shifting. Thirty-eight per cent of advisors say clients are now booking further in advance than they were a year ago, compared with 33 per cent who report clients booking closer to their departure date. Only eight per cent of advisors say clients are typically booking a year or more out.

Insurance purchases climb

According to TRAVELSAVERS, travel insurance is gaining ground with Canadian travellers. Forty per cent of advisors report an increase in clients purchasing insurance compared with a year earlier, almost three times the 15 per cent who say fewer travellers are opting for coverage. Advisors report that 45 per cent of their clients are now purchasing insurance.

Travellers balance value and premium spending

Survey results indicate a market split between premium-seeking travellers and value-conscious vacationers. Thirty-five per cent of advisors say clients are more willing to spend on travel experiences than they were a year ago, and 13 per cent report increased demand for premium upgrades. 

Meanwhile, 23 per cent of travellers are more willing to compromise on plans to lower travel costs. To stretch their budgets, these clients are staying flexible with their travel dates (54 per cent), booking further in advance to secure better pricing and availability (48 per cent) and selecting destinations that offer the best value (42 per cent). 

Thirty-eight per cent are exploring emerging destinations that offer unique experiences and value, while 23 per cent are choosing accommodations that balance comfort and value and 23 per cent are prioritizing meaningful experiences over luxury extras.

Other survey highlights

Advisors' 2026 sales predictions: 13 per cent expect a significant increase, 52 per cent a modest increase, 17 per cent no change and 19 per cent a modest decrease. On shoulder season, 19 per cent report bookings up 1 to 9 per cent, 31 per cent report no change, 19 per cent report a dip of 1 to 9 per cent and 13 per cent report a drop of 10 per cent or more. Booking windows: four per cent book a month or less out, 17 per cent one to three months, 27 per cent six months to a year, and 27 per cent say their clients' booking window hasn't changed from a year ago. On insurance, 42 per cent say the number of clients buying is unchanged.

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