Avanti Destinations has undergone some major transitions in the past year, but it's not slowing down growth for the FIT tour operator that works solely with travel agents.
In fact, Avanti is growing by leaps and bounds, making it easier for travel advisors to make bookings and create itineraries and developing a groups division.
Avanti recently capitalized on the group travel trend, creating a group travel division for the first time in the company's history.
"Growth on groups is tremendous for us," said executive chairman, Paul Barry. "The demand was always there but we didn't have the in-house knowledge. Now, we have brought in outside people to create this division."
Another trend Avanti is capitalizing on is the development and advancement of technology. The company recently took a major step forward in providing digital solutions to its travel agent partners.
"A week ago we relaunched our booking engine and travel agent portal," said Barry. "Everything went smoothly, and we have already doubled the number of requests through the agent portal."
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The new portal offers more information digitally, allowing travel agents to build out itineraries and also features live chat capability.
"The typical channel between travel agents and Avanti was by phone," Barry said. "Now we have the web portal, which allows for a higher level of customer service."
While travel agents can still speak with Avanti representatives, the web portal makes it easier for them to create itineraries and gives them the ability to showcase their own product knowledge.
When it comes to growth, Barry acknowledged that travelers are looking for destinations that are more off the beaten path but said that popular countries are going to remain at the top of peoples' lists.
"Italy, Britain and France are still our top three," said Barry. "Growth is going to happen in existing destinations. It will be in the undiscovered parts of Italy, for example. In Great Britain, people are becoming more attracted to Northern England, Scotland and Wales."
A recent joint promotion between Avanti Destinations and VisitBritain saw bookings soar.
"Bookings from our Britain promotion doubled for that time of year," Barry noted.
Portugal is currently one of the biggest growth destinations for Avanti, as are Sweden, Norway and Finland.
"Scandinavia is growing and the Baltics, as well as secondary cities in popular countries," said Barry.
Avanti has also continued to expand in Asia where it has seen its Japan product boom.
Last year, the tour operator introduced new food-focused itineraries and cultural experiences in Vietnam after the destination grew more than 30 percent over six months.
Overall, with new product on hand and a more personalized, high-tech approach, Avanti is poised for a banner year in 2019.
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