As traveler expectations evolve, the pressure is on for travel sellers to deliver more than just transport and accommodation. From dynamic ancillary bundles to protection products that mitigate risk for both travelers and operators, the post-pandemic travel landscape demands smarter, more flexible solutions.
One area seeing rapid growth is the space between the booking and the experience, where travelers want peace of mind and sellers want to preserve revenue.
In an interview in the PhocusWire studio at Phocuswright Europe, Protect Group’s Stephen Joyce, global strategy lead for travel and tours, unpacks the new economics of refund protection, the growing demand for flexible booking options and why “cancel for any reason” models often fail to deliver value.
He also shares booking trends across key markets, the rise of passion-driven travel, and why Protect Group is scaling quietly but significantly—on track to underwrite nearly $7 billion in travel and ticket spend this year.
From our partners at Phocuswright Europe 2025: Protect Group