Diverse Destinations
The types of trips these group leaders offer cover a wide range. Nearly all of the survey respondents — 97 percent — said they take groups on trips to see live theater. Cruising and international travel are also popular, as 75 percent reported taking groups on cruises, and 59 percent said they take groups on tours outside of the United States.
Just over half (53 percent) of group leaders surveyed said they plan retreats for their churches, and exactly half said they are involved in planning mission trips. The least popular categories included in the survey were women-only trips, which are offered by 41 percent of church group leaders, and visits to spas or all-inclusive resorts. Although only 28 percent of respondents indicated that they planned spa or resort vacations, that result represents a positive trend, as resorts have not traditionally attracted many tour groups.
When asked to list the destinations to which they would bring groups in 2013, group leaders had a wide range of answers. Tying for first place were Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee — both cities with a long history of attracting church group travelers. Third place saw a tie as well, between New Orleans and the destinations of the Holy Land — Israel, Jordan and Turkey. Branson, Missouri; Europe (multicountry tours); Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Ireland tied to round out the top 10.
