Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
Avanti Destinations has expanded its product line to now include destinations in Asia. In December, the FIT tour operator announced that it would launch 22 customizable independent travel itineraries and more than 30 city-stay packages in China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
The program has been so successful that Avanti is already expanding it. The tour operator has followed up its initial launch with trips to Singapore. Myanmar and Indonesia will launch in the fall for travel in 2017 as was recently announced at several dinners around the country, during which the company met with travel agents to spread the word about the new product line.
In fact, these one-of-a-kind trips can only be sold through travel agents, which are the bread-and-butter of Avanti's business.
READ MORE: Avanti Destinations Expands Into Asia with 22 Exciting Tours
"Travel agents allow us to be in business," said Mark Grundy, managing director, Asia, at Avanti Destinations.
Avanti's staff is made up of more than 100 people, 60 of whom are travel counselors who work directly with agents to customize the perfect trip. Sixteen of those 60 are Asia experts who have direct knowledge of the destinations and the countries that they are helping agents to sell. In addition to that, the company has representatives in each destination.
"We always use a DMC," said Grundy. "It is so important to have local people and feet on the ground right there in the destination."
READ MORE: Tour Insights: Avanti's Second Coming
Staff members who are working on the Asia products have traveled to each destination. Hotels have been personally vetted by Avanti staff and travel counselors will work with agents to personally match clients with a guide perfectly suited to them.
Currently, there are nine suggested itineraries in China, three each in Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, two each in Cambodia and Laos, and two itineraries combining Southeast Asian destinations.
The best part of these trips is that travel agents can combine several city-stay modules with add-on activities and services to create custom-tailored unique packages.
"Every vacation with us unique," said Grundy. "We don't sell the same trip twice. It is an up-close-and-personal-experience."
In order to illustrate how the Asia packages can be created and customized, Avanti shared a video with travel agents at the dinner.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
