What’s Moving in the Travel Trade — May 2026
Hello,
Welcome to TCT’s monthly newsletter.
At this time of year, I always find myself thinking about seasons. Spring has arrived across much of the northern hemisphere, while autumn is settling in for many of our contacts in the southern hemisphere.
Many years ago, when I lived in Singapore, I remember missing the changing seasons. There is something grounding about noticing the small shifts around us: warmer evenings, cooler mornings, longer days, leaves changing colour. Change can feel uncertain, but it also reminds us that movement and adaptation are part of life.
Of course, seasons themselves seem less predictable these days. We all wonder how hot summer will become, how cold winter may be, and what major climatic events may still lie ahead.
The travel industry often feels much the same. There is always uncertainty somewhere: economic shifts, political changes, operational pressures, changing traveller behaviour. Yet the industry adapts remarkably well. Travel companies continue to adjust, evolve, and find ways forward because the desire to travel remains deeply rooted. That adaptability is one of the reasons I continue to enjoy working in this industry so much.
As always, the aim of this newsletter is to provide useful information to support your B2B leisure sales outreach and help you stay connected with the travel companies most relevant to your business.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this month’s edition.
Best wishes for the month ahead,
Claire
Buyer Interviews
In recent conversations with travel company buyers, one point stands out:
“We don’t have time to figure out if something fits, it needs to be obvious quite quickly.”
They also shared that they:
- Prioritise suppliers aligned with their traveller profile
- Look for overlap with what they already sell
- Move on quickly if the fit isn’t clear
If you’d like to hear directly from buyers, you can watch our full buyer interview series on the website, where tour operators share how they evaluate suppliers, what they prioritise, and how they approach partnership.
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:
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.
You can download a copy directly from our website. We will be updating the calendar on a monthly basis.
View the Trade Show CalendarTrade Travel News
News Round-Up: Rising Fuel Prices and Outbound Travel
Rising fuel prices are continuing to influence outbound travel across TCT’s source markets, creating cost pressures for airlines, travel companies and travellers alike. Despite this, demand for travel remains resilient, with many companies adapting through revised pricing, route planning and operational efficiencies. Below is a snapshot of how the topic is currently being reported across each market.
Australia
Travel companies are adjusting pricing and introducing targeted fuel surcharges as diesel costs rise, while demand for travel experiences remains steady heading into the next travel season.
Read Article →Canada
Air Canada has highlighted ongoing uncertainty around jet fuel prices, but the airline continues to see strong passenger demand as the sector adapts to changing operating costs.
Read Article →Ireland
Fuel price protests in Ireland have drawn attention to rising transport costs, although outbound travel demand and holiday planning remain active ahead of the summer season.
Read Article →New Zealand
Air New Zealand has adjusted parts of its schedule in response to higher fuel costs, while continuing to focus on maintaining key international connections and traveller demand.
Read Article →South Africa
Expected fuel price increases are likely to raise transport costs for travellers, although the market continues to show strong interest in regional and outbound travel opportunities.
Read Article →United Kingdom
British Airways is managing the impact of higher jet fuel prices while demand for outbound travel from the UK continues to remain comparatively resilient.
Read Article →USA
US airlines are responding to higher fuel costs through fare adjustments and route planning, while travellers continue to prioritise leisure travel despite pricing pressures.
Read Article →Sustainability News
From time to time, it’s great to have someone from outside the travel industry to look in. Elise Parkinson is a young graduate in sustainable food production. TCT gave her the task of exploring sustainability in the travel industry. As a starting point, she has collated this comprehensive and fascinating glossary.
Read Article →Source Market Snapshot
TCT includes Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and the USA.
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.
Sign up here for a free trial
Start exploring a 14-day free trial — no credit card required. During your trial, you’ll have access to all source markets and can perform unlimited searches. Each search will display the number of travel companies found and the names of five within the results, giving you a strong sense of the platform’s reach and relevance.
Start My Free TrialPlease note that some features are limited during the free trial. You won’t be able to view contact details, buyer notes, search by Travel Company name, or save your searches. Filters such as “offer my organisation” and “offers my organisation’s location(s)” are also not available during the trial. Upgrade anytime to unlock full access and enhanced functionality.