While some prefer traveling solo, there are many people interested in being surrounded by other like-minded travelers while they explore new destinations. From multigenerational family vacations to friend trips, group travel is on the rise, and advisors can play a huge role in making this type of travel a success.
Avanti Destinations launched its custom group department in 2018 and is expecting group business to grow 30 percent in 2024. Ricarda Haeger, director of group sales and operations at Avanti Destinations, said any advisor who hasn’t included groups in their business model should start considering it this year.
“Not only do advisors make more income on an itinerary for 10 or more passengers than they do for couples or individuals, without needing to do 10 times the work, but when a group has a wonderful experience, the same group is highly likely to return to that advisor, not only as a group, but also as independent travelers,” Haeger said. “As many advisors tell us, there is a growing trend towards people wanting to share their travel experiences with other people.”
Custom Crafted Itineraries and Travel Trends
Avanti Destinations doesn’t have a “one size fits all” approach, and this applies to the groups department as well. Advisors working with the tour operator can find a trip that fits their groups’ specific needs, taking into account different budgets, varying travel dates and accommodation preferences.
The average size of groups booked with Avanti is 18 passengers, and eight days is the average length of the trip — usually including two countries in the itinerary. Most advisors find that their happiest groups are ones with a good balance of free time and organized activities.
Themed groups include everything from crafts and gardening to music and history. “Culinary tours, encompassing everything from wine tastings and cooking classes to cider mills and local breweries, are experiencing a surge in popularity among American travelers,” said Haeger. “Golf too is another increasingly popular option for groups, offering a chance for friendly competition and relaxation in a beautiful setting.”
New Groups Website With Sample Itineraries
In order to assist travel advisors in both finding and creating more group business, Avanti Destinations added a new webpage dedicated to groups on its travel advisor portal. If advisors head to the “Explore” section on the groups webpage, they’ll find 10 sample itineraries that represent various segments of group travel: educational, sports, spiritual, corporate, etc.
Some example itineraries include a nine-day cider tour of Ireland, a 10-day golf and sightseeing trip to Spain and a 10-day trip to Tokyo, Kanazawa and Osaka in Japan.
“To succeed at group travel planning, advisors really need to dig in and get to know their groups. Our team immerses ourselves in every aspect of each itinerary — we are the advisor’s co-pilot, and it’s essential to have a trusted partner,” Haeger said, adding that members of the Avanti groups department each have an average of 10-plus years of experience working with groups.
To learn more about booking groups with Avanti Destinations, visit www.avantidestinations.com/groups, call the Groups Department at 1-888-606-7260 or email groups@avantidestinations.com.
About the Author
comments