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G Adventures Enables Its Guests To Travel With A Purpose
© Provided by GAdventures Cambodia to Bangkok: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap & Khao San Road Hangouts This article originally appeared the April issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
As G Adventures has grown it has become part of a larger company, but its mission remains the same: to be "a social enterprise in the business of changing lives through travel," said Steve Lima, director of marketing.
That mission goes back to when Bruce Poon Tip started the company in 1990 as a small-group tour operator with a focus on community tourism and how travel can make a positive impact, instilling that belief in all employees and extending it to partners, including travel advisors and their clients.
"I don't just work for a travel company," said Lima, "I work for a purpose."
G Travel CommunityWith the recent acquisition of several other tour operators, a holding company called G Travel Community (GTC) was formed. Ben Perlo is now CEO and president of G Adventures while Jeff Russill is CEO of GTC. Poon Tip continues to play a highly active role on the board of GTC.
With the larger structure, the company is able to have an even more powerful impact on the places it visits – an impact measured by a proprietary Ripple Score, a tour evaluation that provides data on the money spent locally by G Adventures, including accommodations, restaurants and transportation. The higher the score, the more positive the effect on a community.
Small GroupsThat pervasive social consciousness, said Lima, is combined with a quality product offering memorable experiences as the operator has evolved in recent years from its origins as a high-end adventure travel provider. Since about 2015, G Adventures has upgraded accommodations and slowed tour pacing but kept the focus on small groups – 10 passengers on average, a "true small-group operator," he said. This year, the company expects to move 200,000 people on 15,000 departures, with a choice of more than 750 different trips in 100 countries on every continent.
Although it now offers more programs on the soft-adventure side, a full gamut of options is available, including more active ones like treks to a basecamp at Mount Everest or hiking the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Lima said.
Sailing OptionsThe company portfolio also includes three ships and 15 tours in the Galapagos, offering everything from active trips to explorations for families. The newest ship, which debuted last year, is the Reina Silvia Voyager, accommodating just 16 passengers. The sailings are accompanied by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) naturalist guide who introduces passengers to the wonders of the islands. In addition, there are sailing trips in Greece, Croatia, the Caribbean and elsewhere, as well as expedition cruises in Antarctica.
G Adventures is also focusing on its National Geographic Journeys product, now comprising 90 tours globally under two umbrellas: National Geographic Journeys and National Geographic Family. These are designed to take travelers deeper into cultures and habitats, and offer more inclusions, greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and the freedom to roam, all within the structure and security of traveling in a small group.
Domestic OfferingsDuring the pandemic, G Adventures doubled down on domestic tours, refocusing them to appeal to American travelers. With the rise of domestic travel in the last few years, a series of USA Adventures was developed to the American West featuring upgraded accommodations, a slower pace and visits to national parks, Lima said.
G Adventures sells a great majority of its tours through travel advisors and has as many as 85 consortia partnerships, mostly in the U.S. – and it is aggressive in offering incentives to sellers. The annual G-Normous promotion, which runs for the first four months of the year, offers over $75,000 in prizes, including a $10,000 top prize, lots of cash giveaways, free trips and bonus commissions.
Change Makers SummitIn September, the Change Makers Summit – an annual conference for advisors – will return for the first time since 2019 in G Adventures' top destination, Peru. A Change Makers Challenge is running from March 1-June 30 with 13 advisors chosen from each major market based on their sales and brought to Peru for the event. There they will meet with global purpose specialists and senior leaders for a week.
The feedback from the travel community following the inaugural summit in 2019 was "incredible," Lima said. "We change the lives of our travelers when they choose to explore the world with us. We're so excited to not just welcome our valued travel advisors on this special trip, but to also celebrate the return to travel with them."
Selling G AdventuresThe operator offers the National Geographic Journeys Agent Specialist Program, a four-part course that provides advisors with everything they need to know to start booking tours. Sherpa is G Adventures' advisor booking engine, which lets them book tours, check availability, order brochures, access online training, create marketing collateral and gain access to exclusive deals like G-Normous.
Also inside the portal is the Agent Backpack, filled with helpful selling tips and product training as well as access to a private "Agents of Chance" Facebook group.
G Adventures offers 13 Travel Styles. The newest is Roamies, a collaboration with Hostelworld designed for younger travelers who want to combine the fun of staying in some of the world's best hostels with the ease and excitement of a G Adventures trip. Another unique Travel Style is Local Living, where travelers unpack once and stay at the same accommodations throughout. Among the options are a winery in Tuscany or a week or at lemon farm.
Travel booking times are shortening back to three to five months, with younger clients booking within one to two months out.
Portrait of the ClientG Adventures' U.S. Clients' age averaged around 35-42 in the past, but with the expanded National Geographic and National Geographic Family lines, the company is seeing a lift in that range to 47-52. That includes more multigenerational groups on family adventures and more mature customers sailing on the G Expedition polar ship.
Over 68 percent of clients are female.
Hosted solo travelers are a significant contingent of the company portfolio – people avoiding big motorcoach tours but perhaps not ready to explore on their own.
The company is seeing more worldly/conscientious travelers who like knowing their trips are "Built with Purpose" and feature a supplier infrastructure that's mindful of its impact on communities. The Ripple Score metric "has been super helpful to travelers who want to dig deeper into how their dollars make a difference," Lima said.
Skift Travel News Blog
Ted Clements, FareHarbor's acting CEO who served as chief operating officer for the last three years, will step down from these positions in September, Skift has learned.
Staff was informed of the move Tuesday, and no replacement has been named. Clements plans to stay in Amsterdam, headquarters for sister company Booking.Com, and may pursue new opportunities, according to the announcement.
Rob Ransom, senior vice president, global strategy and business development for Booking Holdings, made the internal announcement, and said he would play a more active role in FareHarbor.
FareHarbor more than doubled its revenue during the years Clements served as chief operating officer, according to the announcement.
Tours and activities are key to Booking Holdings' connected trip strategy, which aims to provide a hassle-free travel experience throughout the journey.
Booking Holdings acquired FareHarbor, a tours and activities technology and distribution platform, in 2018 for $139 milliion net of cash acquired and $110 million in stock.
FareHarbor co-founders Lawrence Hester and brother Zachary Hester left Booking Holdings in July 2021. Max Valverde, who served as FareHarbor CEO from 2019 to 2021, likewise left Booking at that time.
FareHarbor's strategy has evolved over the last few years, evolving from an exclusively build-your-own strategy model in the early days under Booking Holdings to include FareHarbor outsourcing some of that work to partners such as TUI's Musement and Viator in recent years.
The changing of the guard at FareHarbor comes as Google is getting more aggressive in building its own "things to do" business with an emphasis on big attractions. Booking engines such as FareHarbor and Peek participate in Google's offering.
Watch out for updates.
Middle East Travel Alliance: Revolutionizing Tourism Through Collaboration And Sustainability
Middle East Travel Alliance (META) is revolutionizing tourism in the Middle East through collaboration and sustainability. As the region's leading Destination Management Company network, META simplifies travel organization and delivers seamless experiences for tour operators and agents. Their curated itineraries, encompassing Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Oman, and more, unlock extraordinary adventures.
Middle East Travel Alliance (META) is transforming the tourism industry in the Middle East by fostering collaboration and promoting sustainability. As a region's leading Destination Management Company (DMC) network, META simplifies travel organization and delivers seamless experiences for tour operators and travel agents across Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Oman, and other countries.
Navigating the complexities of organizing travel across multiple countries in the Middle East can be overwhelming. Recognizing these challenges, META aims to streamline the process for tour operators and travel agents. With a centralized platform, the alliance's network of trusted DMCs ensures seamless logistics, saving valuable time and resources for travel professionals.
"Our mission is to provide tour operators and travel agents in the Middle East with seamless and unique experiences. Through off-the-beaten-path itineraries and close collaboration with our members, we aim to showcase this remarkable region's hidden gems, rich cultures, and breathtaking landscapes," says Mr. Khaled Ibrahim, a visionary founder of the Middle East Travel Alliance.
META offers a diverse selection of expertly curated off-the-beaten-path itineraries and personalized and tailored experiences. Working closely with tour operators and travel agents creates unforgettable journeys that align with clients' specific requests and reflect their brands. These bespoke itineraries unlock extraordinary adventures, capturing the essence of the Middle East and leaving a lasting impression on travelers.
META's network of vetted DMCs in Egypt, DMCs in Israel, DMCs in Saudi Arabia, DMCs in Jordan, and DMCs in Oman covers an extensive array of destinations. Whether travelers seek the vibrant cityscapes of Saudi Arabia, the rich cultural heritage of Egypt, or the awe-inspiring landscapes of Oman, they provide unparalleled access to the region's hidden gems and iconic landmarks.
Middle East Travel Alliance sets itself apart through its commitment to sustainability. As leaders in the industry, they actively promote green practices and ensure their members become fully green DMCs throughout the region. By prioritizing carbon reduction and offering eco-friendly accommodations and transportation options, they strive to minimize its environmental impact.
They accurately measure and offset unavoidable emissions through collaboration with the Carbon Footprint Center at Heliopolis University, making their trips carbon-neutral by purchasing carbon credits from Economy of Love's sequestration program. META's dedication to sustainability also extends to supporting local farmers and fostering sustainable agriculture in the region, empowering the long-term growth and sustainability of the Middle East's tourism sector.
"The Middle East Travel Alliance is revolutionizing the tourism industry through collaboration and sustainability," emphasizes Mr. Khaled Ibrahim. "Our efforts have streamlined the travel organization process, created unforgettable adventures for travelers, and hold the promise of reshaping the industry's trajectory on a global scale."
META's transformative initiatives position them as a symbol of progress and a catalyst for the future of tourism in the Middle East. Please visit META's website to learn more about the Middle East Travel Alliance and their commitment to collaboration and sustainability.
About Middle East Travel Alliance (META):
Middle East Travel Alliance (META) is a leading collective of Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in the Middle East. META aims to simplify travel organization and provide seamless experiences for tour operators and travel agents across Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Oman, and other countries. Through collaboration and sustainability, META creates unforgettable journeys that showcase the Middle East's hidden gems, rich cultures, and breathtaking landscapes.
Media ContactCompany Name:Middle East Travel Alliance
Contact Person:Ibrahim Khaled
Email:Send EmailPhone:+201066435054
Country:Egypt
Website:https://www.Middleeasttravel.Net/© 2023 Benzinga.Com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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