8
min read
David Shull
Dec 12, 2024
This past week, Tern hosted an extraordinary webinar event to unveil our newest suite of features tailored specifically for group travel. With record-breaking attendance, the energy was palpable as travel advisors from around the globe gathered virtually to see how Tern is redefining group trip management. Here’s a look back at the highlights from our groups launch event—and what it means for the future of travel planning.
CEO and Co-Founder David Shull opened the webinar with a reflection on 2024—a year that saw Tern grow from a robust itinerary builder to a comprehensive platform for travel advisors.
“This time last year, Tern was primarily known for its itinerary and form builders,” David remarked. “In just 12 months, we’ve delivered groundbreaking features like credit card authorization, real-time push notifications, and the industry’s only dedicated AI assistant for travel advisors. Now, we’re taking it further with a fully integrated group travel experience.”
The transformative power of these updates has already been felt, with advisors reporting record-breaking sales and significant time savings. Walter Biscardi from Where’s Walter Travel added in the chat during the webinar:
“Our sales are 2.5x last year, a lot of that is due to Tern because we are so much more efficient.”
But the launch of Tern Groups promises to elevate the platform even further.
At the heart of this launch is a simple yet powerful mission: to create an incredible end-to-end flow that saves advisors time and delivers a magical client experience. This vision shaped the foundation of Tern Groups, where the emphasis has been on leveraging technology to transform group trip management into a seamless and delightful process.
Brad, Tern's Head of Design explained,
“We envisioned a system that not only simplifies the advisor’s workload but also creates a sense of wonder and trust for the client. Every detail, from the landing pages to the signup flow, was designed to make travelers feel they were embarking on an extraordinary journey, even before their trip began.”
The Tern team delivered on this vision with a host of new tools, designed from the ground up based on extensive advisor feedback:
Advisors often juggle multiple moving parts when managing group trips. With Tern’s new centralized group trip management feature, advisors can now organize individual sub-trips within a master group folder. This streamlined approach allows for better planning and reporting. Whether it’s a destination wedding or a multi-city corporate retreat, this feature ensures all components are easily accessible and manageable in one place.
Creating a personalized experience for each traveler used to mean hours of manual customization. Tern’s automated personalization changes that. Advisors can build a single group itinerary and instantly generate tailored versions for each traveler. These itineraries include traveler-specific room selections, payment schedules, and custom activities. It’s a revolutionary tool that saves time while delivering a top-tier client experience.
Room selection is often one of the trickiest parts of group travel planning. With Tern’s enhanced room options, advisors can convert lodging setups into fully customizable room blocks. Travelers can now select their room preferences directly from their itinerary, simplifying the booking process and ensuring accuracy in reservations. This feature is especially helpful for events like family reunions or conferences, where flexibility is key.
The integrated signup flow is a game-changer for both advisors and clients. This feature consolidates the entire registration process into one seamless experience. Travelers can provide their information, select room options, and authorize payments all within the same interface. This eliminates back-and-forth emails and manual data entry, saving advisors hours and ensuring clients have a frictionless booking experience.
The event also showcased Tern’s revamped group landing pages, where modern design meets functionality. These landing pages integrate imagery, detailed itineraries, and clear calls to action, ensuring travelers can easily sign up or inquire about trips.
Brad from the design team shared insights on the user-first approach:
“We wanted clients to feel the same sense of excitement and trust when booking a group trip as they would with a high-end online retailer. It’s about elevating the advisor’s brand while simplifying the traveler’s journey.”
What sets Tern apart is our unique focus on building cohesive flows, not just isolated features. Brad elaborated:
“We didn’t just add tools; we created a unified system where every piece—from the landing pages to the signup flow—works harmoniously. For instance, integrating automated personalization with room selection and payment authorization ensures advisors save hours while delivering a sleek, high-quality client experience. Only Tern’s holistic approach could make this level of sophistication possible.”
For many attendees, the live demonstration was the highlight of the event. David took the audience step-by-step through the creation of a group trip to the UK, showcasing features like room customization, client-specific itineraries, and automated workflows. From the advisor’s perspective, the ease of use was striking; from the client’s side, the experience felt modern and professional.
Molly wrapped up the webinar with an overview of what’s coming in 2025, including inventory management, optional add-ons, and expanded reporting tools. “This is just the beginning for groups,” she said. “We’re committed to listening, learning, and delivering updates that make group travel easier and more rewarding for everyone.”
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The response to the groups launch has been overwhelming, with hundreds of advisors already exploring these new features. Whether you’re planning destination weddings, corporate retreats, or multi-family vacations, Tern Groups is here to help you work smarter, not harder.
Important note: Tern's pricing is set to change on December 17th. Lock in your current rates now to continue benefiting from our platform at the best value.
If you’re ready to unlock the future of group travel, join Tern today and be part of a community that’s shaping the next era of travel planning.
