Sustainability and the Evolving Perks Landscape

Every time I see a new perks list, someone’s quietly testing out “sustainable” upgrades. Not just for show—repeat guests suddenly get carbon offsets, or maybe a bamboo toothbrush pops up in their vacation rental. Apparently, people care. Statista says global ecotourism hit $172.4 billion in 2022, aiming for $374.2 billion by 2028. If I’m not messing up the math, that’s a lot of agencies scrambling to get in on the “eco” thing.

Eco-Friendly Packages for Repeat Travelers

Book twice, and suddenly agents start whispering about perks that aren’t on the public menu—eco-lodges, electric shuttles, reusable bottles with a smug “welcome back.” You think it’s generic, but there’s a weird pride in knowing agencies like LeGrow’s offer carbon-neutral trips, or that cruise lines are running hybrid ships just to keep regulars happy (and, let’s be honest, to outdo each other). Sometimes you get first dibs on eco-lodges, sometimes a donation sneaks into your itinerary. Nobody asked for this stuff a few years ago. Now it’s just there, next to the early check-in.

Frequently Asked Questions

I keep hearing these stories—someone books with the same agency a few times, and suddenly they’re getting wine tastings, secret menus, or the front desk calls them by name before they even check in. Feels like a secret club for regulars. No one admits how it works, and it’s never the same twice.

What exclusive benefits can repeat guests expect when booking with a travel agent?

One guy swears he got a spa upgrade because his agent “sends the best people.” I don’t know what that means. My agent just shrugs and says most perks come from endless email chains no one reads. Repeat bookings trigger weird “priority” perks—welcome gifts that aren’t listed, or a random late check-out you can’t buy anywhere.

I’ve seen agents just wear down tour operators until they throw in free transfers or secret tour slots that weren’t on the call sheet. Still waiting for a city tour that doesn’t end at a souvenir shop, though.

How do travel agents provide added value for frequent travelers in hotel bookings?

Booking straight with Marriott or Hyatt? Usually just a fruit bowl. My agency rep once got me club lounge access with a “we book a ton of business for you” email, and suddenly I’m VIP. USTOA barely mentions it, but behind the curtain, volume matters—agents with lots of regulars get more pull.

Upgrades, free breakfast, handwritten notes—nobody tracks which perk lands where. Sometimes nothing shows up, and I have no idea why they gave me a pool view just for name-dropping “Susan’s group.”

Can you get better deals at hotels like Marriott or Hyatt by being a loyal travel agency customer?

It’s weird. IT at one chain told me agency rates don’t stack with loyalty perks, but I still got both a discount and double points last summer. Maybe reps just know who fills rooms in the off-season, so they fudge upgrades. Or maybe it’s just a slow night.

Agencies booking in bulk can unlock stuff you won’t see on Booking.com—room credits, free parking, “friends of the agency” perks. Nowhere official lists these, but regulars know when to ask.

What special services do travel agents offer to their most loyal clients?

A travel agent once pinged me at midnight to say she’d scored a vineyard tour that every guidebook called “impossible.” I’ve heard of agents texting hotels to guarantee late check-out (even when the policy says no), or moving a transfer just because someone left a nice review.

It’s never logical. Sometimes you get a lounge pass or a free cocktail tasting just because you always book your anniversary trip. Try asking a chatbot for that.

Are there any hidden advantages to consistently booking package tours through a travel agent?

Momentum’s real. Suddenly you’re “important” at the cruise terminal and someone whisks you past a line, no explanation. Sometimes I find comped tours or secret restaurant recs that never showed up in my itinerary.

TravelPerks and others negotiate deals regulars only discover mid-trip. The truth? Most surprises happen because agents remember your quirks and quietly nudge tour providers to do something extra.

Do repeat customers receive any unique perks when booking all-inclusive packages via a travel agent?

So, get this—there’s this couple who just kept using their agent, like, clockwork. No special requests, no drama. They show up for their fourth resort trip, and bam, someone slaps a “premium guest” wristband on their wrists. I mean, they’re breezing past this massive check-in line, and I’m standing there thinking, wait, is this some secret club? And then, apparently, their minibar’s suddenly loaded with extra bottles. Not the usual stuff, either. Weirdly specific, like someone actually cared what they wanted.

I asked a travel agent about it—half expecting a canned answer—and she just shrugs: “Oh yeah, sometimes we call in a favor, get someone a better room, toss in a dining credit if they keep booking with us.” Super casual, like this is just Tuesday for her. But you’ll never see any of that spelled out on those booking sites. It’s all these quiet emails, random notes on reservations, and, honestly, who even knows what else. Makes you wonder what else goes on behind the scenes, right?