OAKVILLE, ON — A new survey from Granite Travel Trade Expos suggests travel demand remains strong heading into 2026, with most Canadian travel advisors reporting higher booking levels than a year ago.

The findings come from the company’s second annual survey, which polled more than 200 travel advisors across Canada. According to the results, 61.7% of advisors say travel demand is higher than it was at the same time last year, including 15% who report demand is significantly higher. Another 22.9% say demand remains about the same, pointing to what organizers describe as a stable and resilient travel market.

“Canadians clearly still have a strong appetite to travel,” said Bradley Dean, Granite Productions, Oakville. “Even with global uncertainty and rising costs, people are prioritizing travel and looking for meaningful experiences.”

Granite Travel Trade Expo in Hamilton, ON, Fall 2025

TOP DESTINATIONS

International leisure travel continues to drive much of the demand advisors are seeing from clients. Europe and the Caribbean in particular are standing out as the most sought-after destinations.

According to the survey, 73.8% of advisors say Europe is seeing the strongest client demand, followed closely by the Caribbean and Mexico at 72.0%. Domestic travel within Canada was cited by 29.9% of advisors, while 22.0% pointed to Asia and 17.8% reported demand for South America.

FASTEST-GROWING SEGMENTS

The survey also looked at which travel segments are expanding the fastest within agency businesses. Cruise travel topped the list, cited by 33.2% of advisors as the fastest-growing segment.

All-inclusive resorts ranked second at 25.2%, followed by adventure travel at 11.7%. Luxury travel accounted for 9.3% of responses while group travel was identified by 8.4% of advisors.

According to Granite, cruise vacations are benefiting from consumer interest in itineraries that combine multiple destinations with the convenience of a single packaged travel experience.

BOOKING WINDOWS

Booking patterns also indicate that many travellers are planning trips months in advance. The survey found that 35.5% of bookings are made four to six months before departure, while 28.5% are booked one to three months ahead. Another 26.2% of trips are reserved seven to 12 months in advance, and 7.5% are booked more than a year before travel.

Only a small share of bookings, 2.3%, occur within 30 days of departure.

CHALLENGES FACING ADVISORS

Despite the overall positive outlook, advisors say several factors are creating challenges in the current environment. Pricing volatility was identified as the most common concern, cited by 65.4% of respondents.

Client budget constraints were mentioned by 44.9% of advisors, while 43.5% pointed to competition from online booking platforms. Airline capacity and airfare availability were also noted as challenges by 35.5% of respondents.

Geopolitical issues are also influencing traveller behaviour. According to the survey, 42.5% of advisors say geopolitical concerns are affecting booking decisions, slightly ahead of price at 40.2%.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

Even with these pressures, overall confidence in the Canadian travel industry remains high. Advisors rated their outlook for the next 12 months at an average of 4.1 out of 5.

Looking ahead, most agencies plan to maintain their current operations. According to the survey, 63.1% say they intend to keep their business operations at current levels, while 21.5% plan to expand. Another 13.6% remain uncertain about their plans, and just 1.9% say they expect to reduce operations.

In open-ended responses, many advisors described the industry as active and growing, while acknowledging the impact of global events and higher travel costs. Common themes included continued demand for travel experiences, clients exploring new destinations and an increasing reliance on travel advisors for expert guidance.

EXPO SCHEDULE

The survey results were released ahead of the 2026 Spring Granite Travel Trade Expos, which begin April 13 in London, ON. 

The complete 2026 Spring and Fall schedules are as follows:

ONTARIO
London, ON: April 13, 2026
Kitchener, ON: April 14, 2026
Barrie, ON: April 15, 2026
Oshawa, ON: April 16, 2026

ATLANTIC CANADA
St. John’s, NL: May 25, 2026
Halifax, NS: May 27, 2026
Moncton, NB: May 28, 2026

WESTERN CANADA
Winnipeg, MB: October 6, 2026
Red Deer, AB: October 7, 2026
Kelowna, BC: October 8, 2026

ONTARIO
Ottawa, ON: November 2, 2026
Kingston, ON: November 3, 2026
Markham, ON: November 4, 2026
Hamilton, ON: November 5, 2026

More than 50 sponsors and suppliers are expected to participate in the 2026 expos, including Bahia Principe Hotels and Resorts, Princess Hotels and Resorts, Couples Resorts, Jamaica, Exodus Adventure Travels, Hoteles Xcaret, Jamaica Tourist Board, Kakslauttanen & Utsjoki Arctic Resorts, Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort Spa & Casino, Nassau & Paradise Island, Ocean by H10 Hotels, Sandals & Beaches Resorts, Swan Hellenic, The Special Travel Corporation, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Visit Orlando and Viva Resorts by Wyndham.

Attendance and parking for the events are free for travel advisors. To register, click here.