SALEM, Ohio — If registration numbers for year-end conferences are any indication, the travel industry is looking to finish 2025 strong. The Group Travel Family of Brands, which is the nation’s leading organizer of group travel conferences, reports a robust attendance to this year’s editions of Going On Faith Conference, Small Market Meetings Conference and GroupTravelCon.
While international uncertainties remain, the demand for domestic tourism has increased, and 2025 looks like it may be the strongest tourism season ever in North America. The Group Travel Family reports that domestic group travel is up 3% and that the average age of these group travelers is dropping.
Surveys of travel planners currently operating affinity group travel indicate that 63% are finding new and younger travelers on their trips.
“This is a significant increase in younger groups of travelers,” said Charlie Presley, president of The Group Travel Family. “We have seen this transformation for the past several years, but it is now being confirmed by our conference delegates.”
Much of the growth in affinity group travel seems to rest in an influx of home-based travel agents and meeting planners who have added the group element to their travel offerings.
“They have discovered that the list of clients they currently serve enjoy traveling together as affinity groups and also like to have someone else plan the travel details,” Presley said.
There is still time to attend a group travel conference this year. Going On Faith Conference will take place August 6–8 in the Cincy Region. Small Market Meetings Conference will be September 16–18 in Buffalo, New York, and GroupTravelCon is scheduled for October 28–30 in Owensboro, Kentucky.
To register and attend these conferences this year, call 800-628-0993.
