Collette’s VP Canada, Ron Lonsdale, says guided vacations provide both travellers and advisors a gateway to a stress-free vacation. “Guided vacations provide the perfect blend of convenience, expertise, and camaraderie. For advisors, guided tours eliminates time wasted in planning, searching, comparing so they can focus on what’s important – growing their business,” says Lonsdale in this edition of Take 5.
1. For more than a century Collette has been leading guided vacations. It’s an incredible legacy. What is it about guided vacations that make this travel style so special?
“Over the past 106 years, we have evolved from regional motor coach tours to being a global tour operator. Guided vacations provide both travellers and advisors a gateway to a stress-free vacation.
“Each Collette tour provides personalized, unique, and local experiences designed by regional experts. Travellers can take less time travelling and more time immersing in their destination’s culture, food, and sights.
“Guided vacations provide the perfect blend of convenience, expertise, and camaraderie. For advisors, guided tours eliminates time wasted in planning, searching, comparing so they can focus on what’s important – growing their business.”
2. What sort of inclusions can travellers expect with a Collette guided vacation?
“Each Collette adventure is expertly handcrafted, offering personalized experiences crafted by regional and local experts to immerse travellers into their destination’s culture.
“Beyond the must-see attractions, our tours provide unique accommodations ranging from castles to glass igloos and wine barrels, ensuring a truly memorable stay. We ride in style on distinctive transportation options such as tuk-tuks, jaunting cars, and scenic trains. Dining experiences on Collette tours are a delight for the senses, featuring local restaurants, cooking classes, and home-hosted meals that tantalize the taste buds.
“Moreover, our tours foster a sense of camaraderie, allowing travellers to connect with like-minded individuals, form friendships during the journey, and even continue travelling together on future vacations.”
3. Some travel advisors (and their clients) may think that guided vacation bookings are more complicated than FIT, or more limited in terms of itineraries. What’s your take on that?
“Booking guided vacations with us is incredibly easy. With over 170 tours spanning all seven continents, travellers can delve into authentic local experiences that our meticulously crafted. Our expert product designers, who are fellow travellers, have vetted and curated each experience, sparing you the need to research, plan, or compare.
“We recognize the value of time and efficiency for our advisors – we proudly maintain an average phone hold time of only 3 minutes, while completing a tour booking usually takes just 20 minutes. Additionally, we have over a 1000 guaranteed dates through 2025, ensuring flexibility and hassle-free reservations.
“Our expert tour managers also play a pivotal role on the ground. They draw on their extensive knowledge of the destination to enrich the journey with cultural insights and historical anecdotes. Beyond guiding, they offer personalized recommendations for activities during free time, enhancing the overall experience. Our tours are carefully structured to strike a good balance between guided sightseeing and leisure time, empowering travellers to explore independently and tailor their adventure to their preferences.”
4. Can you share the details of some guided vacations available with Collette in the coming months that you think are sure-fire winners with Canadian travellers?
“We find that Canadian travellers have a strong spirit of adventure and a deep appreciation for nature, eagerly embracing diverse cultural experiences.
“In the upcoming months, we anticipate significant interest from Canadians in our Kingdoms of Southeast Asia, and Costa Rica: World of Nature tours.
“The Kingdoms of Southeast Asia journey invites travellers to explore the ancient and enigmatic landscapes of rural areas, vibrant urban centres, and rich historical sites throughout Southeast Asia, featuring highlights such as Ha Long Bay and the Mekong Delta.
“Meanwhile, our Costa Rica: World of Nature tour offers travelers a profound encounter with the essence of ‘pura vida.’ From staying in Tortuguero National Park to embarking on a riverboat adventure for a crocodile safari and bird-watching excursion, this expedition fully immerses travellers in the emerald wonders of Costa Rica, where towering trees and free-roaming wildlife abound.
5. Does Collette have any travel agent incentives in the market right now that you’d like to highlight, or any other agent resources that you want to make sure travel advisors know about?
“The best way to experience Collette is on tour alongside our travellers. See what they see, share in that experience, and save big.
“Travel advisors enjoy 50% and more savings on our tours and could even get a free tour the more they sell.
“We also have our advanced commission program to help travel advisors grow their business – up to $200 per booking. We understand how hard they work, so we will never recall the advanced commission if their client cancels their trip.
“We also recently released Collette Connection which co-brands our brochures with travel advisors’ information. This program is at no cost to advisors.”
For more details see collette.com/en-ca.
