Every friend group has one. That person who somehow juggles flight bookings, accommodation hunts, budget spreadsheets, and the emotional labor of keeping everyone happy while taking the blame when anything goes sideways. Travel planners are the unsung MVPs of group vacations, and a new survey by Klook reveals just how underappreciated they really are.
The numbers are striking. Research across 2,725 respondents in ten countries showed that travel planning ranks below carrying grocery bags and holding doors open in terms of gratitude received. Yet the people doing it are sacrificing serious time. More than 70 percent of travel planners reported spending over 10 hours organizing a single trip. Nearly half spend up to 20 hours, while 28 percent invest 40 hours or more. That's a full work week.
The real grind goes beyond logistics. Coordinating schedules (cited by 54 percent of planners as stressful), managing group budgets (57 percent), and comparing flights and hotels (47 percent) are just the visible parts. The hidden toll comes from emotional labor. A striking 61 percent of planners say that managing group dynamics, preventing drama, and keeping everyone satisfied is the hardest part of the job. They're part operations manager, part therapist, part crisis negotiator.
Time to Flip the Script
Klook decided someone should say thank you. The platform is launching a global search for five travel planners who've earned a genuine break. The prize? A fully funded seven-day trip to Switzerland in December 2026, with a plus-one invited along. Round-trip flights, premium accommodation, and curated activities are all covered. The only job: show up and enjoy it.
If Switzerland calls to you, there's plenty to discover. Consider exploring the country's legendary rail routes, or look into the upcoming chocolate park launching in 2030. Winners will document their experience for Klook's campaign, turning the trip into both reward and collaboration.
How to Enter
Until August 31, 2026, nominations are open. You can nominate someone else or yourself. Klook wants to hear about a moment you held a trip together against the odds. What did you organize? What hilarious disasters nearly derailed everything? Why do you deserve this escape from planning escapes?
Submissions are simple: tell your story in words or submit a 60-second video showing you in action. Head to Klook's thank-you campaign page to enter. Five winners will be selected from entries worldwide.
If you're planning your own travels and want to reduce the stress on whoever becomes the trip coordinator, tools like Klook exist specifically to simplify the heavy lifting. Fewer hours spent on admin means more time to actually enjoy where you're going, and maybe, just maybe, the planner gets a real vacation too.
