What to Expect From Abercrombie & Kent in 2024 and Beyond

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) is well known across the travel industry for its emphasis on high-end, experiential itineraries on land, at sea and in the air, with offerings spanning all seven continents.

And this week, A&K honored its 100 top-producing travel advisors during its biennial 100 Club Meeting, which took place April 8-10 at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. In addition to general sessions that shared the latest company updates, travel advisors mingled at receptions and a gala dinner, and attended breakout sessions on a variety of topics, from “The Power of Travel as a Force for Good,” featuring Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, to workshops on emerging adventure hot spots, private jet experiences and the evolution of the luxury market.

Honoring the Past, Looking Toward the Future

Several updates have been made since A&K’s last 100 Club Meeting in 2022, when the tour operator celebrated its 60th anniversary and hosted its first 100 Club Meeting since the pandemic.

Cristina Levis, A&K Travel Group’s CEO, welcomed attendees by sharing the company’s most recent achievements.

Last year saw record-breaking sales by a significant margin, and 2024 is shaping up to be even better, with a projected year-over-year increase in EBITDA of 25% (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) for the Group. And the momentum is set to continue, with A&K’s Board of Directors approving a $2.5 billion investment over the next five years to develop new lodges, camps, cruise ships, travel advisor resources and DMC offices.

A&K travelers are defined as “adventurous, discerning, curious, experienced and global,” said Marett Taylor, chief sales officer for A&K Travel Group, all attributes that are “not based on a simple age or demographic, but rather on a mindset.”

“We’re honoring our heritage while paving new roads, and we’re counting on you to take us into the new chapter for the brand we love,” she said, addressing 100 Club members during the conference.

Here's what to expect from A&K in 2024 and beyond.

We’re honoring our heritage whilst paving new roads, and we’re counting on you to take us into the new chapter for the brand we love.

On Land: New itineraries, DMC Offices and Sanctuary Retreats

A&K offers boots-on-the-ground, in-destination support to clients, operating over 55 DMC offices in more than 30 countries. Interest in Europe remains strong, according to Stefanie Schmudde, senior vice president of global product strategy, but there’s also an increasing desire for more intrepid locales.

Costa Rica and Mexico are the latest countries to receive DMC offices (with Costa Rica currently open, and Mexico’s office set to open in the coming months). Recently, A&K also set up shop in Colombia, Namibia, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

It’s all part of a targeted plan to diversify A&K offerings into off-the-beaten-path destinations while continuing to “simplify and innovate,” according to Schmudde.

Part of this includes an initiative to unite all land journeys under a set of global standards across the entire portfolio, while simultaneously releasing new offerings. Up-and-coming Small Group Journeys include a return to Cuba (in the latter half of 2024) and tours in northern Morocco, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Borneo, New Zealand and more for 2025. (Currently, operations in Israel are on pause due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.)

A new line of Culinary Journeys will also roll out in 2025, starting with Vietnam. Experiences in this product line will replace run-of-the-mill cooking demonstrations with immersive experiences that allow clients to touch, taste and prepare the food, Schmudde says. After Vietnam’s itinerary rolls out, the line will expand to countries such as Italy, France, Japan, China and India.

Additionally, A&K’s portfolio of Sanctuary Retreats Lodges, Camps and Boats  continues to expand, with new properties in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Kenya and Rwanda.

In the Air: Private Jet Journeys

Interest in A&K’s Private Jet Journeys is high, according to Ann Epting, senior vice president of private jet and special interest travel, mainly due to remaining pent-up demand from the pandemic. Chartered private jets fit 48 guests in lie-flat seats.

On the docket for 2025 are two wildlife-focused journeys (Wildlife Adventure: Around the World by Private Jet, and Wildlife of the Americas by Private Jet), along with a Kingdoms & Empires by Private Jet tour that visits three continents, and an Around the World with Geoffrey Kent itinerary, with details to be announced soon.

Additionally, Epting said she’s seeing an uptick in solo travelers onboard private jets — predominately women — who want to explore with like-minded travelers in a safe way.

At Sea: A&K Luxury Expedition Cruises, Ecoventura and Crystal

In 2022, A&K acquired sister company Ecoventura and its fleet of four yachts in the Galapagos Islands. Additionally, the last two years saw the acquisition and relaunch of the Crystal Cruises brand, which included a $150 million renovation of the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity ships, increasing guestroom size and reducing capacity by 30%. Thirty-three voyages are currently available onboard Symphony for booking, and 36 voyages are open onboard Serenity. Four newbuild ships (three ocean liners, and one expedition ship) will be released over the next few years under the Crystal brand.

Two additional ships are in the works — a new, yet-to-be-named Nile River boat will be unveiled in Egypt in late 2024, joining A&K’s existing fleet in the region, and an Amazon River boat will debut in Peru.

Resources for Travel Advisors

Each of A&K’s brands has its own dedicated field sales team that provides support for each offering. Additionally, the company will soon unveil a global travel advisor portal, where trade partners can view bookings, access the operator’s worldwide network of DMCs, track commissions, pull in sales support and more (a Crystal-branded trade portal has already been released).

Travel advisors in the 100 Club also receive their own set of perks, including top-tier, upfront commission payments; agency override earning opportunities; reduced-rate travel; priority invitations to educational study tours; invitations to the biannual 100 Club Meeting; and waitlist clearance for A&K Roadshows.

The next 100 Club Meeting will take place in 2026.