Due to the ever-increasing popularity of its Small Group tours, Tauck introduced its first Smaller Group tours through a pilot program. While the luxury tour operator’s Small Group tours average 24 guests per trip, the Smaller Groups Tours will average 15 guests.
“Tauck is piloting the new program in 2024, with the first Smaller Group departures of three tours (America’s Canyonlands,’ ‘A Week In… Spain’ and “A Week In… Ireland”) having operated in recent weeks,” the company said.
“In all, Tauck will pilot 26 Smaller Group departures spanning seven itineraries in North America and Europe this year, and all Smaller Group tours in 2024 will be special departures of existing Tauck itineraries.”
The Smaller Group tours are scheduled to be officially unveiled in 2025, in tandem with Tauck’s 100th anniversary. At that time, Smaller Group program will grow to incorporate 124 departures including 12 North America, Europe and Africa itineraries.
“As in 2024, 2025’s Smaller Groups will feature special departures of existing Tauck itineraries. However, the program will also feature three African safaris where all departures are Smaller Group offerings,” the company said.
“Although a large segment of our guests remain devoted to our classic group size, we’ve also seen incredible growth in our Small Group departures over the past several years,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar.
“More recently, some of our guests have shown increasing interest in even smaller group sizes. Our market research has zeroed in on an optimal group size of 12 to 20 among those interested in smaller groups, so our average group size of 15 travelers is right in the center of that sweet spot.”
On average, Tauck’s classic land programs host 35 to 44 guests.
Over the years, Tauck has built upon its “Small is Big” philosophy, which extends beyond land programs.
As a case in point, ms Andorinha, which plies Portugal’s Douro River, accommodates 84 passengers. And in 2017 and 2018, the operator reconstructed four 110-meter river vessels from 118 to 98 guests. “Tauck’s four 135-meter ships have a capacity of just 130 guests each, far less than the 190 passengers (or 46 percent more) routinely carried aboard competitors’ ships of the same size,” the company said.
Tauck’s major partner is Ponant, features Explorer ships that carry 184 guests.
“Overall, 10 of Tauck’s small ship ocean cruises sail aboard ships carrying fewer than 200 guests, including three vessels that carry 100 passengers or less,” Tauck said.
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