PHOTO: A couple traveling with Globus. (courtesy Globus Family of Brands)
At the Travel Planners International Extravaganza taking place this week, representatives for Globus, Cosmos and Monograms discussed how tours have changed and why clients may be interested in a tour in 2016.
A video shown during the breakout session pointed out the value in touring: "Globus takes away the hassles and ensures that, from start to finish, your vacation is care free.
Denise Fraind, inside sales consultant for Globus, Cosmos and Monograms, and Michael Lawson, inside sales consultant for western and central Florida, highlighted many of the advantages of taking a tour and suggested that clients mention some of these aspects to their clients such as VIP entrance at attractions with long lines, such as the Vatican. They also noted the all-inclusive aspects such as all breakfasts and some dinners.
Tours include hotels in the heart of the city, including four- and five-star properties with Globus and three- and four-star properties with Cosmos. Local experts are also one of the best parts of the tour experience. And there is a lot of convenience and comfort traveling on an escorted tour such as free Wi-Fi access at hotels and onboard the coach as well as high-end luxury coaches and transportation.
The Tour Experience
When taking a tour, there are many things that come standard with Globus and Cosmos. Accommodations are a twin share in a first-class hotels with Globus and Cosmos has many benefits for single travelers, including deals on single supplements.
When on a Globus or Cosmos tour, a full buffet breakfast is always included as is transportation by new, modern luxury motorcoaches. Guests will be able to sightsee with local guides and will use audio headsets.
"The headset is pretty freeing," said Fraind, noting that clients who have mobility issues or walk slower can still hear the whole presentation.
Clients also have the assistance of the tour directors, who are there to make sure your clients' holidays are running smoothly.
If air is booked through Globus, transfers from the airport on arrival and departure are also included an extra inclusions include hotel service charges, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
"There are a lot of little things that go into a tour," said Fraind. "All of the little extra charges like fuel and tolls and that all adds up when you are looking into the price of a tour."
Who to Sell To?
In a Globus survey, top picks for travelers included city trips, cultural travel and historic sites - all places that tours visit.
"Tours makes the travel easier," said Fraind. Top reasons why include the fact that there is someone there to handle the logistics; traveers can visit places they would not normally visit on their own -- or even places they wouldn't think of visiting at all.
When 2,500 outbound travelers who had not taken a tour were asked whether they thought they would like a tour, 49.4 percent said they would extremely enjoy taking a tour.
There are 19 million people who haven't taken a tour versus a cruise, where there are just 10 million people who want to take a cruise but haven't. So there is a broader pool to sell to.
Answering Tour Misperceptions
"They are for older people." According to Globus' research, 80 percent of travelers are boomers or younger.
"Passengers are getting younger and the average passenger on a European Panorama tour is a Gen Xer," said Fraind.
There are also a lot of families and grandparents on tours. The minimum age for Globus, Cosmos and Avalon is 8 years old.
There is no free time. Fifty percent of touring is on your own with Globus. There is a lot of free time built in on tours these days.
We're always stuck on the bus. The coaches are spacious and nice these days, but there isn't a lot of time on the bus," said Fraind. The average time on the coach is less than 20 percent per day, she said.
Ocean cruising has the highest satifsfaction rate. According to CLIA, cruise has satisfaction rate of 94 percent. Globus has 97 percent satisfaction.
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