U.S. luxury travel agents see little demand for Olympics so far

Luxury travel agents in the United States are seeing weak demand for the Paris Olympics so far, as wealthier travelers opt instead for nearby destinations in Europe

Olympic hosts often see a boom in visitors, but travel agents say bookings for the July 26-Aug. 11 Olympics in Paris are coming from more modest travelers. European luxury retailers LVMH and Cartier have already said they're counting on more business outside France from rich travelers who avoid Paris during the games.

Key Takeaways

• As of the end of May, the U.S. is the top source market for tickets to Paris during the games, according to Valencia, Spain-based Forward Keys, an airline ticketing data firm. Tickets from the U.S. to Paris are on track to increase 37 percent year-over-year, compared with the same period in 2023;
• Virtuoso's summer travel bookings for Paris are up 172% year-over-year, but bookings for France as a whole are down 22% year-over-year. Its clients are instead flocking to nearby Spain and the United Kingdom, where summer bookings are up 44% and 10%, respectively, from 2023;
• Miami-based luxury travel concierge The Prelude said it has received inquiries about Olympic tickets and packages, but bookings aren't coming in yet.

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