Touring styles reinvented
THE days of ‘if it’s
Tuesday, it must
be Belgium’ are
long gone,” says Theresa
Szejwallo, md of Trafalgar
SA. When reinventing and
revitalising coach touring,
she says the term ‘guided
holidays’ was coined as this
was what clients were really
looking for.
“Trafalgar has refined the
different ways in which we
meet guest expectations.
We offer different travel
styles to suit their needs.
A guest may be looking
for a guided holiday that
offers longer stays, later
starts and more free time.
Our Leisure trip style is the
perfect match.
“Guests looking to explore
a region in more detail
will be well served by our
Regional Explorers, which
take in one or two countries
in depth,” she explains.
Similarly, Alet Steyn,
gm of Asian specialist,
Wendy Wu Tours, says:
“We used to offer Classic
fully inclusive tours only,
but we realised that every
traveller is different, so we
developed different touring
styles to help clients see
Asia in the way that suits
them best.”
Now, Wendy Wu clients
can still see the highlights
of the region on a Classic
fully inclusive tour, but also
get in-depth insights of Asia
on an Immerse Yourself
tour or experience it in
luxury with the Exclusive
Collection. “Clients could
also choose a private tour
or an Asia river cruise
if group touring isn’t for
them,” she adds.
Janine Pienaar, sales
and marketing manager
of Globus Family of
Brands, says itineraries
are designed based on
demand and consumers’
travel preferences. “Every
year we introduce new
tours designed for the true
traveller,” she adds.
Debunking myths
The consultant who thinks
coach tours are for older
people, itineraries aren’t
flexible and groups comprise
more than 40 passengers,
couldn’t be more wrong,
according to Alet.
Wendy Wu’s Immerse
Yourself tours, for example,
consist of smaller groups
of 18 passengers, feature
more free time with fewer
meals included, leaving
passengers to explore at
their own pace, or take
up a choice of optional
excursions on days at
leisure. “These tours
are popular with younger
travellers looking for
more active and authentic
cultural experiences like
cycling, rafting, hiking and
visiting local families and
homestays,” says Alet.
“One of the major
misconceptions is that we
only travel using a bus,”
says Theresa. “We don’t.
There are no buses to
be found. We only use
luxury coaches equipped
with reclining seats, airconditioning,
audio visual
systems, WiFi, charging
stations for electronics,
comfortable leg-room,
excellent viewing from
panoramic windows and
highly qualified drivers who
know how to navigate the
areas we travel through
safely and with ease. We
also use water taxis, trains,
ships and more to get our
guests from A to B.”
Janine adds that people
incorrectly think there’s no
free time on a coach tour.
“With Cosmos Holidays we
have mastered the balance
of including must-see sites
and allowing clients enough
time to explore on their
own.
“Having said this, there
are clients who prefer not
to explore on their own
and rather have the major
attractions included; this
is where Globus Holidays
comes in.”
Carlos Luis, Flight Centre
Travel Group’s supplier
relationship leader, agrees.
“Guided holidays and coach
tours are often perceived as
inflexible with large groups
of passengers. The reality is
different and travellers are
starting to see the benefits
of escorted tours, especially
in terms of safety and
reliability.”
Unique selling points
Theresa highlights that
Trafalgar’s guided holidays
offer experiences that the
ordinary man on the street
can’t put together on his
own. For example, travellers
get to explore centuriesold
Italian art followed by
dinner in the Vatican “with
no crowds because the last
of the tourists have left the
building”.
Other benefits, she says,
include getting to skip the
queues “like the ultimate
VIP at all iconic favourites”
and never having to worry
about luggage, or producing
passports and credit cards
at check-in. “Our team will
see that luggage is taken
care of and delivered to
your hotel rooms. Check-in
is smooth and hassle-free
as the travel director has
already taken care of this
long before the coach
arrives at the hotel,” says
Theresa.
Inge Dobihal, md of
Austria Connection, says
coach tours are great for
travellers who want all
aspects of their trip taken
care of. They don’t have to
worry about the day-to-day
plans, getting from point
A to B, getting to train or
bus stations, organising
sightseeing tours and so on.
“Another advantage is
there will be a tour director
who one can ask questions
and have interesting
conversations with on the
destinations. This applies
especially to our Kompas
and Atlas tours, which
primarily cover destinations
most passengers are rather
unfamiliar with. One great
plus point in this respect is
that the tour directors of all
our coach tours are from an
Eastern European country,”
adds Inge.
Theresa says Trafalgar offers real
opportunities to connect with locals.
“The Be My Guest lunch and dinners
offer a real taste of culture. For
example, in Ireland our guests visit
the Barrtra Seafood Restaurant for
lunch, but before they tuck into a
single bite they’ll join the coastal
foraging excursion along a beach
near the Cliffs of Moher, with a
horticultural expert to collect the
produce.”
Wendy Wu Tours also offers
authentic experiences. “Be it
learning a local craft, practising
an old tradition, dining on local
flavours or meeting local families
in their community, clients have the
chance to really get under the skin
of a country and its culture to see
a lifestyle so different to our own,”
says Alet.
She points out that coach tours
offer great value as they are fully
inclusive of airfare, taxes, meals,
visas, accommodation and touring
detailed in the itinerary.
Karen Lewis of Club Travel
Corporate, says there has been an
increase in demand for coach tours.
“I have especially seen an increase
in travellers between the age of 40
and 60 as they see the prices of the
tours.” She says costs are normally
better than a tailor-made trip. A
selling point is also the chance
clients get to meet new people.
Carlos says, with all the
information available to travellers,
making sure they are including all
the highlights in their trip can be
overwhelming. “Touring companies
do all that homework for you. Their
product experts scour the globe for
unique experiences that showcase
all the flavours of a destination so
that you ensure, with your limited
time, you’re seeing as much as you
can and the best experiences.”
Further, he says the buying power
of the touring companies usually
means passengers benefit from
great hotel rates and special
treatment.
Sell it ti solos
REPORTS have
shown an increase
in travellers exploring
the world alone.
For solo travellers
still looking for a
way to share their
experiences with
others, coach tours
should be at the top
of their list.
“More than onethird
of all people
travelling with
Cosmos are single
or travelling alone,”
says Janine Pienaar
of Globus Family
of Brands. Coach tours, she says,
enable solo travellers to travel with
like-minded people. “You constantly
have companions with whom to
experience the destinations and
make lifelong friends.”
Inge Dobihal of Austria Connection
says being part of a group is
attractive to single travellers. “They
can have company should they
wish to and people with whom they
can share their feelings about the
experiences of the trip.”
One of the reasons Wendy Wu
Tours’ Alet Steyn says fully inclusive
escorted coach tours are popular
with solo travellers is that they feel
safer travelling in a group. “We get
plenty of great feedback from solo
travellers about the friendly and
sociable atmosphere for our groups.”
According to Trafalgar’s Theresa
Szejwallo, guided holidays are
perfect for solo travellers as they
offer all the benefits of group travel
without any of the negatives. A
concern for solo travellers is what
to do in the evenings, but Theresa
says Trafalgar offers regular evening
entertainment and opportunities to
dine with fellow travellers.
Making it
affordable
Trafalgar has
attractive solo deals
that offer as much
as 100% of the
single supplement
waiver on a range
of its most popular
trips. It also offers
room sharing.
As an alternative
to the single room
supplement, Janine
says Cosmos
accepts reservations
on a ‘guaranteed’
basis. “We charge
the basic price and match up
singles of the same gender in
twin-bedded rooms. If no other
traveller has booked on the same
basis, we’ll absorb the single room
supplement and that traveller will
be accommodated in a single room
at no extra charge.” But she adds
that single travellers who prefer
the privacy of their own room can
reserve single accommodation.
It’s not just solo travellers who love
coach tours. Inge says they are also
suited to elderly travellers as they
don’t need to worry about carrying
suitcases and have peace of mind
knowing someone is there to take
care of them if necessary.
Karen Lewis of Club Travel
Corporate says of the coach tour:
“People either love them or hate
them – I think it depends on the
person’s personality; whether they
like being around people or exploring
on their own. I think whether you
end up enjoying it or disliking it
depends on the people you have on
the tour with you.” She adds that it
is worthwhile for travel agents to sell
coach tours, but that they should
qualify their clients correctly.
Top coaching hot spots
ACCORDING to tour operators,
the following destinations are
currently in vogue.
Russia: “A popular
destination for South
Africans now that visas have
been scrapped, but not easy
to navigate on your own. This
is where a Trafalgar guided
holiday really comes into
its own,” says Trafalgar’s
Theresa Szejwallo. Trafalgar
travel directors speak English
and Russian, drivers navigate
the road systems and clients
skip queues at popular sites.
Croatia: “Often not thought
of as a guided holiday
destination, but with so
much to explore, from Zagreb
in the north to Dubrovnik in
the south, there’s no better
way to ensure you see all
Croatia has to offer,” says
Globus Family of Brands’
Janine Pienaar.
Morocco: Janine says the
diverse country offers so
much to see, from the Atlas
Mountains and Sahara
Desert to the azure waters of
the Atlantic Ocean. “Splurge
in the colourful souks or
visit a fascinating kasbah
– Morocco is best explored
in the comfort of a guided
holiday, especially if you are
a lady travelling solo.”
South and Central America:
Destinations such as Peru,
Patagonia, Costa Rica and
Mexico are excellent guided
holiday options, according
to Janine. “As English is not
necessarily widely spoken
in these regions, it would
be best to have the help
of a tour director and local
guides on hand as you travel
around.”
Alaska: “With the
Spectacular Alaska! Globus
Holidays tour, we have
obtained a complimentary
upgrade for our guests
on the Alaska Railroad
that travels through the
spectacular Alaskan
scenery,” says Janine.
Oberammergau: The famous
Passion Play takes place in
this German village every
10 years. Janine says:
“Join a Cosmos or Globus
Oberammagau 2020 tour
and be assured of enjoying
this awe-inspiring Passion
Play with tickets included as
part of the tour.”
Did you know?
With Cosmos Holidays you can add a train journey or Alaskan
cruise to selected itineraries. Some of the train journeys on
offer include VIA Rail’s Canadian, VIA Rail’s Skeena train from
Jasper to Prince Rupert, VIA Rail’s Ocean and the well-known
Rocky Mountaineer. For an ocean cruise, the options include
an Alaskan cruise on Holland America’s ships enjoying ports
of call such as Glacier Bay National Park and Sitka.
Globus gives you more to sell
IN 2018, the Globus Family
of Brands celebrates its
90th birthday. Between the
festivities, the company is
also enhancing its product
offering.
This year, it introduced nine
Undiscovered Italy itineraries
focusing on areas outside
Rome, Florence and Venice.
It also added more itineraries
for popular destinations such
as Croatia and Iceland.
In addition, three new
seven-day tours for under
$1 000pps (R12 300) were
introduced: Rome, Florence
and Venice; Highlights from
Andalusia; and Postcard from
Portugal.
Did you know?
Wendy Wu Tours has a ‘seat-and-a-half’ policy on coaches so clients
can sit in comfort while touring.
Sweeten the deal
VALUE for money is one of
the strongest selling points in
favour of coach tours. To add
to the offering, most touring
companies include discounts,
extras and more, making it
a no-brainer for travellers
searching for a good deal.
Some of these include:
Globus offers travel
insurance – SafetyNet
Protection – which allows
clients to change or cancel
their tour without penalties.
Escapes by Globus – Thinner
Crowds, Thicker Wallets.
This is a compilation of the
best itineraries in Europe,
presented during the
less-crowded low season
to make Europe’s most
popular destinations more
affordable.
Trafalgar’s discounts include
an early booking discount
of 5% for Europe and Britain
until May 29; 5% discount
for repeat travellers; 5% off
per person for groups of five
to eight people; discounts
of up to 10% for younger
travellers and more.
Trafalgar also offers Deposit
Protection, so if a guest
cancels their trip, they won’t
lose their deposit. It is kept
on file for up to five years as
a credit towards a future trip.
With Austria Connection,
travellers can join a tour one
or two days late or end the
tour a day or two earlier and
receive a deduction from the
tour price for the unused
nights.
Book it!
Wendy Wu Tours is offering a Vietnam Impressions 10-day fully inclusive escorted group
tour from R28 456pp ex-Johannesburg. Highlights include all meals, a stroll through
Hanoi, waking to a Ha Long Bay sunrise (pictured), a cooking class in Hoi An, exploring
Saigon, drifting along the Mekong Delta and exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels.
A coach is not a bus
WHEN promoting
chartered coach
travel offered
by Bidvest Car
Rental, Gaynor
von Loggenburg,
executive:
sales and
marketing, says
agents should
remember to
explain the
difference
between luxury
coaches and
commuter buses.
Consultants should also
point out that coach travel
takes longer than travel by
car, as coaches travel at a
maximum of 100 km/h.
Luxury coaches, she says,
are ideal for transporting
groups in safety and
comfort, are air-conditioned
and feature
reclining seats,
DVD and audio
systems, a
toilet and fridge
on board.
Further,
Bidvest
Car Rental
customers can
use their carrental
accounts
for coach
reservations,
and competitive
negotiated rates are in
place for all customers.
Coach charters are aimed
at companies transporting
groups to conferences
and/or events, transport
for sports teams and
supporters, church groups
and groups attending
funerals, among others.
Explore, rest , repeat
APART from being an easy
sell and offering budgetconscious
clients great value
for money, there’s another
reason travel consultants
should be selling coach
holidays – repeat business.
Coach tours are a great
way to gain loyal clients
as those who enjoy the
structure and experience
often return for more.
According to an article in
The Telegraph, as much as
50% of the business UK
touring companies have
seen in recent years has
been repeat customers.
The picture in South Africa
is similar. Carlos Luis of
Flight Centre Travel Group,
says there is a definite
repeat client base with
most touring suppliers.
“Guided holidays are very
popular among South African
travellers and the ratio of
repeat business is high.
The fact that you [as the
agent] have recommended
a holiday they’ve enjoyed
so much they want to go
on another, bodes well for
repeat bookings for you too,”
he says.
Most companies, including
Trafalgar and Globus, offer
discounts for returning
customers, which is
something worth pointing
out to clients when making
their bookings or following
up on their return.
Carlos adds: “Our repeat
clients will receive a
discount to book their next
trip, which ensures brand
loyalty.
Austria Connection adds
13-day Balkan tour
AUSTRIA Connection now offers a
13-day, 12-night Atlas itinerary for clients
interested in exploring the Balkans.
The tour, which starts and ends in
Croatia and offers guaranteed 2018
departures, features visits to Slovenia,
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro,
Albania and Macedonia.
It includes airport transfers,
accommodation in three- and four-star
hotels (mostly on a half-board basis), local
guides for sightseeing tours, entrance
fees for various attractions, travel in an
air-conditioned motor coach, a tour escort
and more.
Some highlights of the tour include city
tours of Zagreb, Ljubljana and Split as well
as tours of Unesco sights such as the
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Diocletian’s
Palace, Kotor and the lakeside resort
of Ohrid. There are also visits to the
Cathedral of St Lawrence, the Franciscan
Monastery, Europe’s third-oldest pharmacy
and King Nikola’s Museum.
The prices per person, for double
occupancy, are:
May 15:- €1 575 (R22 934)
June 5: €1 575
July 3 and 31: €1 650 (R24 015)
August 21: €1 650
September 11: €1 650
Single supplement: €360 (R5 240).
Sell with certainy
negotiated rates are in
place for all customers.
Coach charters are aimed
at companies transporting
groups to conferences
and/or events, transport
for sports teams and
supporters, church groups
and groups attending
funerals, among others.
COACH TOURS
Austria Connection adds
13-day Balkan tour
AUSTRIA Connection now offers a
13-day, 12-night Atlas itinerary for clients
interested in exploring the Balkans.
The tour, which starts and ends in
Croatia and offers guaranteed 2018
departures, features visits to Slovenia,
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro,
Albania and Macedonia.
It includes airport transfers,
accommodation in three- and four-star
hotels (mostly on a half-board basis), local
guides for sightseeing tours, entrance
fees for various attractions, travel in an
air-conditioned motor coach, a tour escort
and more.
Some highlights of the tour include city
tours of Zagreb, Ljubljana and Split as well
as tours of Unesco sights such as the
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Diocletian’s
Palace, Kotor and the lakeside resort
of Ohrid. There are also visits to the
Cathedral of St Lawrence, the Franciscan
Monastery, Europe’s third-oldest pharmacy
and King Nikola’s Museum.
The prices per person, for double
occupancy, are:
May 15:- €1 575 (R22 934)
June 5: €1 575
July 3 and 31: €1 650 (R24 015)
August 21: €1 650
September 11: €1 650
Single supplement: €360 (R5 240).
Explore, rest, repeat
APART from being an easy
sell and offering budgetconscious
clients great value
for money, there’s another
reason travel consultants
should be selling coach
holidays – repeat business.
Coach tours are a great
way to gain loyal clients
as those who enjoy the
structure and experience
often return for more.
According to an article in
The Telegraph, as much as
50% of the business UK
touring companies have
seen in recent years has
been repeat customers.
The picture in South Africa
is similar. Carlos Luis of
Flight Centre Travel Group,
says there is a definite
repeat client base with
most touring suppliers.
“Guided holidays are very
popular among South African
travellers and the ratio of
repeat business is high.
The fact that you [as the
agent] have recommended
a holiday they’ve enjoyed
so much they want to go
on another, bodes well for
repeat bookings for you too,”
he says.
Most companies, including
Trafalgar and Globus, offer
discounts for returning
customers, which is
something worth pointing
out to clients when making
their bookings or following
up on their return.
Carlos adds: “Our repeat
clients will receive a
discount to book their next
trip, which ensures brand
loyalty.”
Sell with certainty.
