Top Trends for 2025 Group Bookings

2025 will be the year of the culturally curious traveler.

With over 100 years in the guided travel space, Collette has been watching travel trends fluctuate for a long time. Some trends come and go, but others have real staying power. The 2025 group booking season is off to a fast start, allowing us to spot several emerging trends worth noting. Check out what's trending:

OFF-SEASON TRAVEL
When you opt to travel during off-peak times, you can get closer to those must-sees. Savvy travelers know this. It's why our year-over-year bookings for Europe in November are up 23%.

There's a slightly more relaxed vibe when the crowds are smaller and there's more of an opportunity to watch authentic daily life unfold. It's easier to gain the local perspective when there are more locals around.

SMALL GROUP TOURS
There's a strong desire to get off the beaten path, and small group touring is ideal for this interest. In a smaller group, there's more agility; allowing travelers to have experiences outside the guidebook—like a home-hosted dinner in Sarajevo or a conversation with a war veteran in Vietnam. And these experiences aren't just one or two times in a 10-day tour, they are present throughout.

Small groups also allow for deeper connection, whether it's spending more time with the tour manager, having meaningful conversations with locals, or just making new (or forging deeper) friendships with fellow travelers.

UNIQUE ACCOMMODATIONS
Going hand-in-hand with small group touring, where you go to sleep at night can be so much more than a place to rest your head. Culturally curious travelers want accommodations they can brag about.

Ana Rooney, Collette Vice President of Product Design & Operations, identified this as a huge consideration for our tours. "Our travelers have made it clear — they value excellent hotels," she said. "They see hotels as an extension of the destination experience and see that unique properties can offer insight into culture. Chateaux, castles, riads, even glass igloos are some popular options our travelers love."

SAFARI TOURS
People spend their lives dreaming of going on a safari. And in 2025, groups are taking the leap and making those dreams a reality. African safaris are one of the fastest growing group segments for 2025!

Picture it: Game drives across serene plains and sprawling grasslands. Searching for the Big Five animals: the African lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and the Cape buffalo. These tours also go beyond the wildlife and take you closer to the culture.

The best part? It's all within reach and super easy with a guided tour. Check out Collette's safari tours here.

CHASING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
The elusive aurora borealis have had a hold on adventurous travelers for decades and that trend continues to shine bright this year. Whether travelers are chasing them in Europe or North America, there's seemingly no end in sight to the lengths people will go for this natural phenomenon.

Some travelers flock to the Finnish Lapland, home of frequent occurrences of the aurora borealis. The Northern Lights of Finland tour includes three nights at the famous Kakslauttanen Resort—a front row seat to the wilderness with both glass igloo and log cabin accommodations.

There's a great opportunity to search for the northern lights in North America, too, with the Alaska's Northern Lights tour. Their aurora season falls between late August and late April. In this sweet spot, travelers have over a 90% chance to see the northern lights when they spend at least three nights in Fairbanks.

To learn more about Collette, visit collette.com/groups, call 855.903.8687, or contact your local travel professional.

Written by Alex Shaked, Collette Lead Copywriter.

Courtesy of Collette.

 Photos courtesy of Collette.