The adult group travel business isn’t dying. Just ask Brent Dalrymple.
After starting his career in the financial industry, Brent left big business in 2003 to join his parents’ small tour company in St. Louis. Since then, he has overseen enormous growth for his family business, Sunrise Tours, as well as the recently acquired Country Travel Discoveries. Brent joins this episode of the podcast to discuss how group travel has changed, why the industry constantly defies critics and how he is leading his companies in into a successful future.
Brent shares what fundamental value propositions of group travel keep new generations of travelers coming into the industry. He also shares why his companies are offering more international tours than ever and how his travelers have grown to love a more premium product. Plus, we have news about the bright outlook for group travel in 2025; a road tip about electrical outlets; and a Hot Minute about proving the group travel haters wrong.
Podcast: Embed
Insights from Brent Dalrymple
Brent had lots of great insights on why group travel keeps succeeding despite headwinds from both the economy and culture at large. Here’s how he responds to the idea that generational change will one day render group tours obsolete:
“It has never happened… Generations are not monolithic. In the baby boomers, there are people who want to do things on their own and people who like the social aspect of traveling, just like any generation. And the fact is, the baby boomers are a big group of people, so we’re in the heart of the baby boomer bulge right now. And in that population, there are a lot of people who are attracted to a more social group travel opportunity.”
Plus, he had insightful thoughts on:
- How strong relationships lead to competitive advantages
- How legacy tour operators should think about transition planning
- How to attract and develop great next-generation employees
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Learn more about Sunrise Tours at travelsunrise.com.
Learn more about Country Travel Discoveries at countrytraveldiscoveries.com.
Follow the Von Mack Agency on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok
See the full results of NTA’s recent destination and tour supplier survey here.
Subscribe to Gather and Go in your favorite podcast app or by email here.
Key Moments From This Episode
2:18 — Travel News: Destinations and suppliers anticipate group tour growth
3:49 — Road Tip: The perfect travel extension cable
8:24 — Take Gather and Go with you
13:59 — Why Brent Dalrymple left big business to join his family’s tour company
15:45 — How Brent doubled down on group travel during the pandemic
19:13 — How the tastes of adult travel groups are changing
20:46 — Why group travel isn’t dying — and never will
24:22 — How first-timers react to their group travel experiences
25:36 — How Sunrise Tours creates camaraderie among tour passengers
26:38 — How today’s adult groups calculate travel value
33:10 — How legacy tour operators should plan for business transitions
37:32 — Tips for up-and-coming tourism entrepreneurs
38:45 — How Brent finds great young employees
50:16 — Hot Minute: Shutting down the group travel haters for good
Thanks to our sponsor Louisville Tourism for making this episode possible. Learn more about group travel to the Bourbon City at gotolouisville.com/travel-professionals.
About the Podcast
Gather and Go with Brian Jewell is a tourism industry podcast that helps group travel leaders plan, promote and lead better trips. There are also tips and insights for destination marketers and others who support the tourism trade. Each episode reaches thousands of professional tour operators, travel agents and the volunteer group leaders they serve. The audience also includes destination museum leaders, church travel leaders and other tourism enthusiasts around the world. Each show includes an interview with a smart travel pro or an insightful person from outside tourism who’s expertise can help make travel businesses better. You’ll also hear travel news, road tips and more. New episodes are released about twice monthly.
You can find Gather and Go wherever your listen to podcasts or subscribe by email.
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