As travelers are beginning to venture out once again, tour operators have introduced new policies and tours to accommodate the new travel landscape. Here are a few of the latest company offerings.
Abercrombie & Kent Announces New Flexible Booking Policy
Travelers who booked tours with Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) will no longer have to worry if their plans change due to the pandemic. A&K’s new “Book With Confidence” policy allows clients to cancel, postpone or change any bookings up to 30 days prior to departure if the reservation was made by Sept. 30 (for travel taking place in 2020 or 2021), and if the cancelation, postponement or change is due to COVID-19. Guests who cancel a trip will receive a credit to use toward future travel.
“As travelers are looking ahead and thinking about exploring the world again post-COVID-19, they need to feel confident that they have the option to adjust their plans, if needed,” said Keith Baron, president for Abercrombie & Kent USA. “Our worry-free policy offers them flexibility to either postpone their trip or choose a new destination from one of many A&K offers on all seven continents.”
www.abercrombiekent.com
Travelers canceling or postponing their trips due to COVID-19 will receive a credit for future travel.
Credit: 2020 Abercombie & KentAuthentic Vacations to Focus on Life Events
Authentic Vacations recently shifted toward a new business model; rather than be destination-based, the company will focus on milestone moments and events, such as traveling with friends and family.
Dubbed “Authentic America,” the tour operator’s new portfolio of domestic tours focus on “the amazing things we can do right here, at home,” according to Allegra Lynch, president of Authentic Vacations. The first destinations featured are Alaska, wine country, New England, the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest and the U.S. Southwest.
The company sent out surveys and found out that travelers are looking for experiences of many kinds, from hiking in the mountains to exploring coastlines featuring small towns and vineyards.
“Tell us what’s coming up with your life first, and then let’s find the perfect destination,” Lynch said.
www.authenticvacations.com/usa
Clients can hike in Zion National Park as a part of Authentic Vacations’ Authentic America campaign.
Credit: 2020 Authentic Vacations/Anubhav SaxenaG Adventures Unveils Socially Distanced Trips
G Adventures' new Travel With Confidence Plus Collection of tours incorporates the operator’s increased hygiene and sanitization standards on a total of 37 trips across 27 countries.
The tours will be made available beginning Oct. 2 and will run through 2021.
They offer smaller group sizes (with an average size of eight to 10 travelers); private transport with increased space between clients; accommodations without shared bathrooms; and a “My Own Room” option, which provides single-occupancy rooms at a 50% discount.
Itineraries take place in Thailand, Cambodia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, India, Vietnam, Australia and more.
www.gadventures.com
G Adventures’ enhanced measures include smaller group sizes.
Credit: 2020 G AdventuresInsight Vacations Unveils New Domestic Tours
Insight Vacations has recently debuted a new line of domestic itineraries, which feature weeklong tours in a new travel style called "Escapes."
“We are getting back out there to explore America and we look forward to you and your travelers reigniting their passion for traveling in style,” said Jon Grutzner, president of Insight Vacations. “Our guests are always our top priority and we want them to have peace of mind when traveling, which now includes enhanced hygiene protocols.”
The brand is also offering a $99 deposit, per person, for new bookings made until Sept. 15, 2020 for travel taking place through Oct. 31, 2021. Repeat clients who have traveled with Insight Vacations or sister brands within The Travel Corporation will receive an additional 5% in savings.
New tours include Spectacular Southwest Escape (the U.S. Southwest); Tropical Hawaiian Paradise Escape (Hawaii); and Cajun Country Escape (New Orleans).
www.insightvacations.com
Perillo’s Learning Journeys and Groups Launches New Tours in North America
Perillo's Learning Journeys and Groups' new portfolio of tours in North America will focus on small-group travel with six new offerings in the U.S. and Canada, all of which can be customized to group preferences. The tours will be available starting this summer, and options in the U.S. range from exploring Utah’s national parks to a six-night journey in California’s wine country. Each itinerary offers guests the option for a private driver or jet.
There will also be two selfguided and self-drive itineraries, including a 14-day “Canadian Maritime Discovery” road trip through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The rates begin at $1,395 per person.
www.perillogroups.com
Clients can explore North America with Perillo’s new line of tours.
Credit: 2020 Perillo Learning Journeys and GroupsThe Travel Corporation Introduces Wellbeing Directors
Beginning with the launch of its domestic tours this year, clients traveling with Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold (brands of The Travel Corporation, or TTC) will now have a dedicated Wellbeing Director on every trip, excluding itineraries in Australia and New Zealand.
The Wellbeing Directors will ensure adherence to TTC’s recently released Safe Travels and Seamless Traveler Journey global protocols while working in tandem with the company’s Travel Directors and drivers. They will remain with clients throughout the duration of the trip and have been trained on luggage management, hotel quality assurance and the daily monitoring of social distancing practices and hygiene standards.
“During our 100th anniversary, the inception of our Wellbeing Directors is a reflection of our family legacy and company ethos, ‘Driven by Service,’ and is an initiative that came directly from our chairman,” said Brett Tollman, CEO of TTC, in a press release. “We remain passionately dedicated to providing our valued guests peace of mind with our unrelenting efforts to create a relaxing, enjoyable and nurturing journey.”
www.ttc.com
