More trips for Collette’s Explorations as portfolio marks 15 years

MISSISSAUGA — Collette is marking the 15th anniversary of Explorations, its small group product line, with even more tours for the popular portfolio.

The idea behind Explorations, first launched in 2008, was a “more personalized travel experience” with cultural connections and a maximum of 24 travellers per departure, says Collette CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote.

She added that many of the original 10 tours still operate today, with Italy’s Treasures and Plains of Africa among the travel company’s top-performing tours in 2023.

“Nearly two decades ago, we saw the rising trend of small group tours. We were quick to innovate, especially to seize the opportunity to bring a small group product line to the travel advisor community,” said Leibl-Cote.

She added that in 2008 she was working in Collette’s Product division, “right in the middle of the development of these tours. We never wanted to go to market with small group departures on our Classic tours. From the onset, these tours had unique brand standards for accommodations, venues and experiences that larger groups simply couldn’t access. And now, this is our fastest growing travel style with the travel advisors.”

Now 15 years later, Explorations has grown five-fold, with more than 50 small group journeys available. In Europe, Collette’s Explorations portfolio has grown by 200%, with new destinations like Albania joining the lineup in 2024.

Nearly 40% of all new tours this year are from the Explorations product line, said Leibl-Cote.

“We are not surprised at the takeoff of this product line in the past six years,” she added. “Travellers revel in the camaraderie of these tours, in the exclusive access, and mostly in the uniqueness of the product.”

Collette’s innovation is guided by traveller and travel advisor feedback, and the evolution of Explorations truly embodies that, said Leibl-Cote.

“I’m ringing in 2025 on an Explorations tour with my family in Africa. Because we are curious about culture, and we’ll get the full story with Explorations. We’ve been at it since 2008 and it’s better than ever.”