Innovation is the secret to longevity and tour operator Collette has found that transforming its tour design and delivery has resulted in an intuitive product for the modern-day traveler.
Collette listened to its guests' needs, striving to provide a product that they would love. The tour operator found that travelers are increasingly dissatisfied with the stereotypical, cookie-cutter itineraries that, constrained by pacing and price, offer only surface level engagement with a destination. Travelers know about the stereotypes dogging group travel and will gravitate toward a company, like Collette, who is breaking the mold, adding choice and curating tours for the culturally curious.
Collette does this through a variety of ways, including offering unique accommodation options to its guests. The company also enhances trips with an abundance of choice.
'Flavors of Portugal and Spain' Explorations tour. (photo courtesy of Collette)
With Choice on Tour guests can customize their experience by choosing between two different included on-tour experiences, putting clients in control of how they spend their day.
In addition, they include the must-see stops in the tour. These are not optional experiences that guests add on or have to pay for. Collette doesn't strip down its itineraries to hit a price point, and that makes them more inclusive than many other operators.
Clients don't have to fit themselves into the proverbial tour box, either. They can travel their way. Different tour styles are uniquely designed to fit the travel style of a variety of clients, so travel advisors can match the right tour to the right individual.
The modern-day guided vacation offers flexibility and choice.
Collette is also working to break the ‘follow the flag’ touring stereotype associated with guided tours. The company is leading the way in curating tours for culturally curious travelers.
Another stereotype Collette is working to break is the way guests spend their time. Collette believes that its guests' time is best spent IN destinations, not driving between them. The tour operator designs its tours to spend as few hours on a coach as possible.
The flow of the tour also shies away from ‘roundtrip gateways’ to minimize time on the coach. In addition, trips are designed and accommodations chosen so that guests walk to most dinners. This way travelers don’t have to get "back on the bus" after a meal, they can walk back to their hotel or continue exploring their destination on their own or with friends.
Collette has taken the "It’s Tuesday, it must be Belgium" stigma and turned it on its head. In fact, the tour operator rarely offers one-night stays in a destination because travelers don't want to feel rushed. Guests want time to explore and get to know a destination and to feel a sense of place and a connection and Collette furthers that endeavor with longer stays.
With choice, flexibility, and free time, Collette's itineraries hardly feel like the bus tours of old. Guests feel like they are traveling and touring their way.
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