Here's what you need to know about Choice Touring by Globus
By: Ann Ruppenstein
After learning that past and prospective escorted tour consumers were seeking more flexibility for future travel experiences, the Globus family of brands took the time to “relook, rethink and redesign” its journeys to offer more freedom for travellers.
“We posed ourselves the question — what if there was a tour operator that could design a tour with freedom, flexibility and choice built into the tour? With that we are introducing Choice Touring by Globus,” Stéphanie Bishop, managing director for the Globus family of brands said during the launch event for the new touring style. “This completely new tour design balances the ease of the logistics of a traditional Globus tour and embeds a bounty of excursions to choose from throughout their tour, and all choices are included, at no extra costs.”
With daily excursion offerings ranging for example in Scotland from an Oban single malt whisky tasting drawn directly from the cask after being regaled by tales about giants and warriors on an engaging walking tour to playing a round of golf in the country where it all started with tee times and club transportation included, Bishop says “consumers can tailor their tour to their own interests, pleasures and passions.”
For Canadian travel agents, Bishop points out that this presents a great opportunity to increase domestic sales among clients as two of the 13 new itineraries launching in September are set for Canada.
Stéphanie Bishop
Globus family of brands
This is an absolutely fantastic opportunity to bring to Canadian consumers that choice, that flexibility and most importantly that freedom when it comes time to travel and I’m over the moon that we’ve got two Canadian itineraries as part of this option. We feel like we’ve got a fantastic portfolio in place [in Canada] and we’ve also helped travel advisors because they are not necessarily geared to selling a lot of Canada, they typically sell more out of country, but this summer again will be a different story.”
In addition to highlighting choice, which is something 55% of potential tourists and adventure customers are looking for according to Mintel research, the itineraries are also about whimsy and fun. Take for example the interesting tour names like Oh My Goddess in Greece, Toasting & Coasting in Portugal or The Bold & The Brewtiful in the US.
“Check out some of these names — these are certainly not your grandfather’s tours. The names these carry the fun and personality that flexibility brings,” said Chris Jones, marketing director for the Globus family of brands. “We understand that one size does not always fit all on vacation. With this new touring style, and YourChoice Excursions, travellers can now spend their days, their way in dozens of destinations across Europe and North America. The average Choice Touring itinerary features three YourChoice destinations with eight excursion options, and all YourChoice excursions are included in the package price of the tour.”
Although its international operations are still suspended until the end of May, Bishop adds that she’s “quite confident” about restarting tours ahead of the September launch date for Choice Touring by Globus, and getting regular tours underway as early as this summer.
“We’re already seeing as we’re talking to accounts and advisors and agency owners out there that they’re feeling more enthusiastic about everything. I think about a month from now you’re going to see a real big switch. Will all Canadians decide to book? We’ll see — no one has that crystal ball,” she said, adding that they will continue to reassess operators as the vaccine rollout advances and travel restrictions ease up. “We don’t have a crystal ball but we feel quite confident we can salvage 2021 and moving to 2022, the year is looking quite robust, we’re pretty excited.”
Here’s a look at what awaits…
EUROPE:
1. HOT TAM!: SCOTLAND BY DESIGN – More haggis or history? More insider stories or Outlander scenery? You choose how to rock your tartans on this 9-day vacation from Edinburgh to Glasgow with a menu of complimentary YourChoice Excursions.
2. GREEN WITH ENVY: IRELAND BY DESIGN – More rounds of stout or made-from-scratch soda bread? More Wilde or the Wild Atlantic Way? Indulge in endless shenanigans on this 8-day discovery from Dublin to Limerick with a menu of complimentary YourChoice Excursions.
3. OH MY GODDESS!: GREECE BY DESIGN – Embark on an odyssey of epic proportions on this 8-day vacation in Greece. How will you unleash your inner god or goddess? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, you choose when, where and how to say, “Opa!“
4. THE ALPS OUT LOUD: SWITZERLAND & LAKE COMO BY DESIGN – Swiss chocolate or cheese? More Milan fashion or Como’s fashionable homes? Wine a little or a lot?! Mountains of possibilities await you thanks to complimentary YourChoice Excursions on this 8-day vacation from Zurich to Como.
5. VENI, VIDI, VICI: UMBRIA & TUSCANY BY DESIGN – Hunt for truffles or catch culture? Soak-in the beauty of waterfalls or stir watercolours? With our complimentary selection of YourChoice Excursions this 8-day journey through the kitchens and countryside of Umbria & Tuscany will inspire Dolce Vita!
6. ROCKS & RHYTHM: PORTUGAL BY DESIGN – Sparkling wine or soulful Fado? Portuguese pastries or pastel plazas? Spend a day retracing the Knights Templar or your nights reveling in foodie traditions. With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, this 8-day trip through Portugal is poetry in motion.
7. TOASTING & COASTING: PORTUGAL & SPAIN BY DESIGN – Catamaran off the Portuguese coast or carafe some Spanish sherry? Marvel at high-stepping horses or step-into history in marvelous piazzas? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, this 9-day celebration of Portugal and Spain will dance its way into your heart!
NORTH AMERICA:
1. FROM THE TOP: WESTERN CANADA BY DESIGN – Eagles soar and wineries pour on this 8-day journey from vibrant Vancouver to the parks and peaks of Western Canada. How will you fill your cup? However you please thanks to our complimentary selection of YourChoice Excursions.
2. MAD ABOUT MOUNTIES: EASTERN CANADA BY DESIGN – Discover Eastern Canada on a 7-day vacation from Toronto to Montreal. How you explore is up to you. Sailing a serene lake, sipping sparkling wines or soaking in a Scandinavian spa? Standing in a field of lavender or upon a famous vineyard? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, you choose when, where, and how to say “C’est si bon!”
3. BOOGIE & BLUES: THE SOUTHERN U.S. BY DESIGN – More turn-of-the-century architecture or another sweet tea? March in the footsteps of Civil Rights heroes or boogie through rhythm and blues? Harper Lee mysteries or Hellen Keller histories? On this 8-day tour, YourChoice Excursions promise a soulful, toe-tapping, lip-smacking journey from New Orleans to Nashville.
4. CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BY DESIGN – Head west for a 9-day adventure with the pioneer spirit of Northern California. How will you strike gold? Riding the rails or gliding by kayak? Soaring to mammoth views or singing the Folsom blues? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, you choose how to fulfill your California dream. What a rush!
5. SUNNY DAYS, STARRY NIGHTS: AMERICA’S ROCKY MOUNTAINS BY DESIGN – Get outward-bound on an 8-day adventure in the Rocky Mountains. How will you indulge your inner mountaineer? Rafting rivers or riding chairlifts? Glamping on a starry night or shopping under sunny skies? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, you decide how to set your spirit free.
6. THE BOLD & THE BREWTIFUL: MID-ATLANTIC AMERICA BY DESIGN – Follow in the footsteps of the country’s first patriots on this 9-day journey. How will you make history? Visiting monuments or revisiting military moments? Sipping masterful craft beer or surveying the canvases of American masters? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, you choose when, where, and how you’ll rediscover America!
