Collette reports that it enjoyed its best-year ever in 2023 – and there’s been a lot them – 107 in fact. The global tour operator says the great travel rebound continues, with many still eager to get back out and explore now that it's once again safe to do so.
Looking at trends, North America's longest-running tour operator says France, Southeast Asia and Italy hot destinations for 2024.
In a continuing shift, Collette says more and more travellers are choosing its smaller-group products, and this year is no different.
With an average of just 16 travellers, 20 in Europe, Explorations tours are Collette's most popular product, with guests rating them as excellent -- the survey’s highest rating -- 78% of the time.
Ron Lonsdale has been with Collette Canada for over 30 years. (Photo Credit: Collette)
TravelPulse Canada caught up with long-time Collette Canadian Director of Strategic Partnerships Ron Lonsdale, to see if Canadian results mirrored those for the company overall.
“Absolutely. Last year was our best-ever in Canada, and we’re 11% over 2019 numbers. And 2024 is trending way ahead of 2023. We have 23,000 seats guaranteed this year, with over 70% of departures guaranteed,” Lonsdale said.
With three decades of experience with Collette, Lonsdale says a big part of the company’s recent success is driven by travel advisors.
“We’ve become more agent-friendly and I think we’re being rewarded for that. We did the right thing during the pandemic, giving out $230 million in cash refunds, even on air. We have our advance commission program that allows travel professionals to receive a portion of the full commission amount before the client travels. If a client chooses to cancel, Collette will not recall the advanced payment. Our feedback is that agents really appreciate these efforts,” Lonsdale said.
Consumers are also responding to Collette’s comprehensive approach that removes hassle and logistical complications.
Collette guests are seeking new places and experiences.
“The psychology of travel has changed, with people wanting more assurance on logistics. Our air-inclusive tours come with door-to-door sedan service included within a radius of 100 km of the airport,” says Lonsdale. “And we’ve extended that to 150 km for an extra $50. As air travel is growing more complicated, more travellers are choosing to book their air with us, knowing that we offer 24/7 emergency service should they run into a problem.”
In terms of destinations, Lonsdale says ‘the three I’s’ – Iceland, Ireland and Italy – are still top-sellers, but many travellers are seeking new places and experiences. He lists Japan, Morocco and several other destinations in Africa as hot sellers.
With smaller-group travel hot among Canadian travellers too, Lonsdale says a top-selling tour is the Mediterranean Coastal Journey: Spain, France, & Italy. Travellers get to explore cities like Barcelona, Marseille, Nice, and Genoa over the course of 14 days.
“This is an ideal trip for those who may have experienced some of these places on a cruise, and now want to take a deeper dive,” says Lonsdale.
Morocco is a hot destination for Canadian Collette clients.
Another popular itinerary cited by Lonsdale is the 15-day Colors of Morocco tour, which includes stays in a luxury tent in the desert as well as in iconic riyadhs. The tour also includes a visit to a women’s cooperative for an interactive cooking class, which Lonsdale says is a hugely popular experience.
“People want to be active, and then be pampered,” Lonsdale says. “They want to get their 10,000 steps in, immerse themselves in local experiences, then have a nice meal and nice place to sleep.”
With Japan a trending destination, Lonsdale singles out another fascinating experience offered on the 14-day Japan: Past & Present itinerary. Guests are invited to meet the ama – women divers who collect pearls and seafood from the sea bottom, in a tradition that has been going on for 2,000 years. Guests learn about their lives and traditions while enjoying a meal prepared by the ama.
“This is a truly amazing and inspiring experience and shows how our designers enable our guests to connect with the cultures they are visiting.”
(Courtesy of Collette Tours) (Photo Credit: The Colosseum)
New for this year, Collette’s "Best of Italy" small group Explorations tour lets travellers immerse themselves into the country's culture their way. Group members have multiple opportunities to decide how they'd like to experience what the country has to offer.
"Our 'Best of Italy' Small Groups Explorations Tour is a fantastic way for travellers to enjoy Italian culture,” said Collette CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote. On this new tour, they'll be able to make their own decisions on what they'd like to experience during their trip."
Topics From This Article to Explore
