Global: G’day, Mates—Three Tour Operators Talk Down Under

Recommend Standard Image TemplateG’day, Mates—Three Tour Operators Talk Down UnderBy Lydia GregoryAustralia is looking to get North American travelers back Down Under, and in the spirit of helping clients travel there in style to say “g’day,” we talked to key players at three top tour operators. Goway Travel: The Australian OGWhen it comes to traveling Down Under, it sure doesn’t hurt to work with a company that’s been taking travelers to Australia for over five decades—and was founded by an Australian, to boot. “We have been in business selling Australia since 1970, and we are the only North American operator with our own office in Australia,” shares Goway Travel South Pacific v.p. Anthony Saba. “Goway stands out because of our experience and our ability to customize, combine and blend to create a bespoke travel experience for each client. We work with all the major airlines and countries in the regions, so we can also create multi-country trips, which include South Pacific islands stopovers.” If your clients are new to booking Australia, Saba has a few tips: “People try to see too much, think a trip Down Under is ‘once in a lifetime.’ Australia is big; trying to see too much means too many lost travel days spent in airports. See less places but for longer. Trust me, you will go back!” The region’s current popularity also means you’ll need to book way in advance as both hotels and experiences on the ground are filling up fast. He stresses that “travel trends, so far, look different coming out of COVID. Not everything is operating as it would have before COVID. Clients should book way ahead to get the experience they want.” And if it’s you who’s new to booking Australia, know that Goway has the tools to help you do it right: “Travel advisors have always been the cornerstone of Goway business,” shares Saba. “We have a dedicated team of account managers, and have recently developed an enhanced loyalty program, GowayPro Loyalty. We have introduced the GowayPro Travel Academy, focusing on training and educating advisors on working with us and the destinations we offer.” Saba’s favorite Australian getaway? “The South East. Victoria through South Australia and down to Tasmania.”Recommend Standard Image Template-1673368763Globus: Variety is KeyThere is so much to do and see in this vast region, and the Globus family of brands prides itself on its gamut of experiences. “No one offers the depth and breadth of Australia experiences that Globus offers travelers in the South Pacific, including 17 Globus and nine Cosmos tours as well as six new Independence by Globus vacations for independent travelers who love the idea of a tour, without the group,” says Wendy Mainerich, manager, product development for Globus. Globus is also the only tour company offering three itineraries that allow your clients to experiences the historic Ghan train, in addition to its 21-day Australian Safari itinerary and a special New Year’s Even Down Under at Sydney Harbor. And, according to Mainerich, 2023 is bringing in a whole lineup of new tours “that are not only perfect for first-timers but also repeat travelers, including more choices on tour and ‘active’ inclusions—from walking tours to kayaking—as well as foodie fun and wine excursions across the destination.” QUOTE As for selling Australia, like Saba, Mainerich also touches on taking the size of the region into consideration: “Because of this, it can create a broad challenge for travel advisors whose clients might be limited by time or funds to explore this destination in all the ways it deserves. So, it’s important to choose a vacation that checks as many boxes as possible.... Working with an award-winning tour company to offer clients several options from which to choose the perfect escape is the first step.” And with Globus, there’s more than just commissions in it for advisors. “In addition to providing advisors commissions upon payment, our partners know they can trust us to take their clients to more than just places. We take them to moments, to memories and to Australia’s ‘wow’ that’s waiting for them. We have the travel style and itinerary to match any client and every budget.” Her favorite place Down Under? This was a hard one, but “Tasmania, as a whole, is my favorite destination in Australia.”Collette: Choice, Value, PresenceTravelers already want to visit Australia, says Christian Leibl-Cote, executive v.p., global sales for Collette, it’s more a matter of making it easier on them. “Sometimes they’ll be scared off by the long flights,” he says, “so we offer extensions before and after the tour to somewhat break up the long trip. For example, travelers from the U.S. east coast will book an extension in Los Angeles to make the flight to Australia shorter.” Leibl-Cote also details three strong reasons why advisors should look to Collette when planning their clients' Australia adventure: choice, value and presence. “We have five different tour itineraries across the South Pacific, which is more than any of our competitors. Our variety of tour choices ensures that we have an option for all customer preferences, ranging from duration of itinerary to number of inclusions to a customer’s budget preference,” he says. “[Secondly,] we have unrivalled value and pricing for the standard of our tours, in particular the quality and location of hotels we use.” And, he adds, they have a local office in Australia that ensures direct regular contact with all their key suppliers and real-time support to travelers and tour managers in the destination. Collette makes sure you have all the support you need as well. “We have our call center available at all times to offer travel advisors any assistance they’d need. We offer trainings that help them learn more about the area,” adds Leibl-Cote, plus “videos, brochures, or other content that they’d need to help them sell the tours. Our Australian tours are a great opportunity for travel advisors to make great revenue because of the length of the tours.” For 2023, look for Collette’s small group Explorations tours to Australia. And Leibl-Cote’s top pick? “My favorite city is without a doubt Sydney.” Contact InformationCollette: gocollette.comGlobus family of brands: globusjourneys.comGoway Travel: goway.com

COVEREXPLORA JOURNEYSTable of ContentsPALLADIUMPALLADIUM SPREADEditor's NotesSANDALSSANDALS SPREADIndustry InsightsPALLADIUM 1Advisor SpeakSpecial Section: Cruising into 2023Onboard Review: 10 Top Hits on Board Celebrity BeyondOnboard Review: Virgin’s Valiant Lady—For the Young at HeartOnboard Review: MSC Seascape—A Peek Inside MSC Cruises’ Newest ShipSEABOURN SCSEABOURN CRUISESEXPLORA JOURNEYS SCLove & Luxury in Mexico and the CaribbeanAn Interview with Frank Maduro: Advisors are Key for KarismaAn Interview with Armin Asceric: SunSwept Resorts Delivers in the Wellbeing SegmentSANDALS SCEMPORIO CANCUN SCEMPORIO CANCUNSAINT LUCIA SCSAINT LUCIAOnsite Review: Palladium & Wyndham Couple UpGlobal: G’day, Mates—Three Tour Operators Talk Down UnderOnsite Review: QatarGOWAY TRAVEL SCEDU HOUSE ADAMERICAN CRUISE LINES