on my mind O
jeff gayduk
Still Standing “IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID.” No
est as a travel group. Our agenda here
ries, expert advice from insiders in the
truer words were ever spoken for any-
has been to provide the knowledge base
field and special promotions to help
one involved in the travel industry as we
to help you take that leap, with dedi-
spur your niche market business. We
grapple with the negative effects of this
cated columns and special interest sto-
will be announcing details of each e-
nation’s worst recession in decades.
ries in Leisure Group Travel and
magazine through InSite on Leisure
How’s our industry faring? We asked
LeisureGroupTravel.com. But as these
Group Travel, so if you’re not a sub-
that question of Leisure Group Travel
segments take on an increased impor-
scriber and want to learn more, visit
readers this past February, with some
tance in everyone’s business model, our
LeisureGroupTravel.com and sign up
surprising results.
need for more dedicated coverage of
directly from the home page.
What we found was that nearly 70% of readers anticipate planning an equal
niche and affinity group travel has led us in a new business direction.
or higher number of group trips this year as ’08, although nearly the same percentage anticipates load factors will be diminished. Motorcoach trips hold the most promise this year, with three out of four readers expecting to book as many or more coach trips this year as
I’ve heard a few off-the-cuff remarks about people “refusing to participate in this recession.” If your business is un-
Niche and affinity markets signal the wave of the future in group travel.
last. International travel is taking the brunt of the downturn; nearly two-
INTRODUCING INSITE ON…
fazed by the current economic events,
thirds of planners anticipate their inter-
NICHE MARKET E-MAGAZINES
more power to you! For the rest of us,
national group trips to be down this
About half of our readers currently sub-
this is the optimal time to regroup,
year due to more travelers staying closer
scribe to InSite on Leisure Group Travel,
focus on our core business while look-
to home and spending less on travel and
our bi-weekly e-newsletter for the group
ing for pockets of opportunity to ex-
fewer nights on the road. Full results of
travel community. We were the first
pand once a level of normalcy returns.
this survey are found in this month’s On
company to publish an e-newsletter in
That refocusing starts now, and we’re
The Record column, starting on page 8.
this market, and while others have fol-
here to help you do that.
We continue to be impressed with the
lowed, InSite still leads by a large mar-
number of Leisure Group Travel readers
gin in both circulation and quality
who have expanded their traditional
editorial. We are creating a series of e-
business to reach niche and affinity
magazines (e-newsletters on steroids) for
groups, and this year’s survey indicates
the sports, student, religious and re-
Jeff Gayduk, Publisher
that more readers are exploring nature
unions marketplaces.
jeff@ptmgroups.com
& eco-tourism, reunions and family
The first of these e-magazines, InSite
trips, religious, student & youth travel
on Sports Events, will
and girlfriend getaways & buddy trips.
debut this spring, fol-
The future growth in the group travel
lowed closely by InSite
business is in the development of niche
on Student Travel. The
and affinity markets where packs of
aim of each monthly e-
like-minded people who share a com-
magazine is to deliver
mon bond gather to explore their inter-
timely destination sto-
6 April 2009
Happy Traveling,
Despite macro-economic figures that indicate otherwise, Jeff is approaching 2009 with great optimism. Anytime he sees a glass that’s half empty, he swallows the contents, then refills it.
LeisureGroupTravel.com