Touring Europe in 2019

Europe bookings are looking strong for 2019, but with a twist. With so many travelers having now visited the Continent many times, clients are looking for new destinations and experiences that transcend traditional sightseeing tours.

Collette Tours has responded to the demand for new places with several modifications to its programs, said the company’s president Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, including the expansion of its “Explorations” small-group product, with its emphasis on getting off the beaten path.

Going Beyond the Norm

“We are going to unique places that are not necessarily on bucket lists but are really great sites,” Leibl-Cote said. The company has also added Finland to its roster, where guests stay in an igloo hotel and see the Northern Lights (sightings not guaranteed).

Authentic Vacations launched “The Iconic The Unexpected” campaign, encouraging guests to visit ancient sites that are little known outside of the local area, festivals usually held near small villages, and so forth. “Agents should encourage their clients to embrace the unexpected moments, as it is these memories that will stay with them for a lifetime,” said Allegra Lynch, president.

For the first time, CIE Tours will offer a St. Patrick’s Day program in Dublin with a private pre-parade party in the General Post Office, where customers will learn about the parade. It’s part of an appeal to customers whom CIE Tours calls “knowledge questers,” said Susan Black, chief commercial officer.

She added that CIE is seeing an increase in longer vacations, moving from six nights three years ago to

Article source: https://www.travelpulse.com/articles/tour-operators/touring-europe-in-2019.html