In our latest instalment of ITTN Talks, we caught up with The Travel Suite’s Managing Director, Lorraine Quinn.
In this ongoing series, ITTN speaks to members of the travel trade and gives them a platform to talk about industry trends, to celebrate successes and discuss challenges their business has faced, offering unrivalled insights into the goings on of Irish travel agents.
How has 2024 been for your business so far?
I’m delighted to say that it’s been a great year so far. January was particularly strong, and we’ve seen a surge since the Easter Break. We are seeing a real mixture in the destinations that our customers are looking for and, of course, Cruise continues to grow from strength to strength.
What has been your biggest surprise this year?
Our customers are loving Sri Lanka – such a rich destination for all ages offering amazing value for money. New Year Holidays for multigenerational families are also a big ticket for us at the moment.
What has been the biggest challenge to your business this year?
We are always on the lookout for talented and passionate team members and now we have a really experienced team who have travelled extensively and offer knowledge and exemplary customer service which is very exciting as we grow The Travel Suite.
Do you have any predictions or are you seeing patterns or emerging trends or destinations for 2024?
Our Marketing and Product teams are innovative with our campaigns and collaborations with luxury resorts around the world to offer our customers exclusive and unique experiences. Peak travel dates for families continues to be around school holidays, however we are seeing a bigger increase in non-summer family holidays – Mid Terms, Easter and post-Christmas.
Japan is also very popular both from a touring perspective and cruising. It’s great to see the cruise lines offering more Japan & Asia itineraries for 2024 and 2025. Flying business class is also very popular to long haul destinations.
Are you seeing longer lead times or last-minute requests?
We see a real mixture but probably leaning towards longer lead in times, I think the consumer is very aware about airline availability and price increases closer to departure dates. Understanding these patterns allows us to cater to both types of travellers and can be beneficial for your marketing and product strategies. Providing options for both advanced bookings and last-minute holidays can help capture a broader range of customers and adapt to fluctuating demand. Additionally, leveraging our data analytics and customer insights can help anticipate trends and tailor your offerings accordingly.
On a more personal note, what motivates your travel? New cultures/ sun worship/ exotic cuisine/ places of historical importance/ pure relaxation?
I love it all – love exploring new places, love experience new cultures, sightseeing, the food, the people and the excitement of travel – the pre-travel build up – discussing where you are going with others, getting the inside track from those who have gone to that destination, putting the out of office on and that feeling walking into Dublin Airport and your holiday has started! I have loved travelling at all the stages with my family from the Disneyland Paris when the kids were younger and then onto Orlando for the big holiday! Travelling with friends over the years has been also so memorable, as they say it’s good for the soul.
What is your dream holiday, and why?
My favourite holiday has to be South Africa and Safari – it was a holiday to remember and loved every element of it, so diverse, beautiful and enriching. My next one would be a Norwegian Fjords cruise – just spectacular scenery. There is so many places on the must-see list – Morocco, Japan, Costa Rica…
Where is 2024 taking you?
I am not one of our customers who plans well in advance, so our summer holidays are still up for discussion but Lake Garda, Cruising and the USA are all on the table, I need to talk to one of our Travel Designers!
