TORONTO — While agents know Busabout for its European adventures, the tour company brings the same connectivity and expertise to Southeast Asia and new for this year, its USA Hop-on Hop-off program, says Damien Bennett, VP of Sales for North America, Busabout. Last night Busabout showcased its style right here in Toronto with a fun Hop-on Hop-off experience for local travel agents.

The Travelweek Group’s Taylor Waver joined the Toronto tour, which took in the city’s colourful Grafitti Alley on Queen St. West near Spadina before heading to Original Grill on Danforth and Lob Toronto, billed as home to the city’s only 9-track bocce-golf course.

Lob Toronto

Later Travelweek caught up with Bennett to learn more about Busabout’s tours, trips styles and experiences…

Travelweek: What’s new for Busabout in 2019?

Bennett: “We’re very excited to launch the U.S. as our newest destination and it will offer both the Hop-on Hop-off way of exploration and our Adventure style trips. Clients opting for the West Coast Hop-on Hop-off Unlimited Pass can create their own adventure with access to eight unmissable destinations, including San Francisco, L.A., Las Vegas and South Lake Tahoe. Optional stops include popular cities Santa Barbara, San Diego or connecting with nature at Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes. Our new USA 2019 program also features 11 Adventure style trips spanning from three days to three weeks.

“The hand-crafted itineraries, led by expert guides, include accommodation, daily breakfast, all coach transportation, a Busabout Guide and driver, a number of included experiences and plenty of free time. Clients can road trip through the States from east to west, or explore one area in great depth; the choice is theirs. Top trips include a 22-day West to East Road Trip, nine-day Southern Blues Adventure and a week-long Canada Rockies Adventure.

“We’ve also included reduced pricing for all of our Hop-on Hop-off passes in Europe and the introduction of the new one-week Hop-On Hop-Off pass. The new one-week European pass allows clients with limited vacation time to craft their own perfect week-long adventure.

“Another new highlight this year will be the introduction of our Small Group Adventures category in Europe, featuring no more than 20 people with seven new itineraries spanning seven to 14 days. The new guided adventures are designed to dive deeper into top destinations on the Hop-on Hop-off coach network with the expertise of a dedicated guide. Including all accommodation and some tasty meals, these itineraries cover the must-do’s while leaving plenty of free time for independent exploring. New Small Group Adventure trips include the nine-day Hidden Gems adventure which takes travellers hiking in the Austrian Alps, rafting in Bled and off the beaten track in Venice, and the 14-day Eastern Wanderer trip ticking off hot spots in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Croatia. We’ve also added four exciting new Adventure trips to the lineup this year including the two-day Greek Odyssey adventure which is the perfect sailing trip add-on for clients looking to spend their summers on water, and three new trips through Spain and Portugal – the 15-day Ultimate Iberian Adventure, eight-day Iberian Highlights and eight-day Iberian Trail.” 

Grafitti Alley

Travelweek: Within the ‘Hop-on Hop-off’ format, are there different travel styles and what can you tell us about them?

Bennett: “With the Hop-on Hop-off passes there are multiple duration options, however the network operates the same regardless of the duration the traveller chooses.

“Passes range from one-week to unlimited, giving clients the freedom to choose and create an itinerary that suits their time and budget.

“For 2019, Busabout is introducing the one-week pass as a standalone option because clients are seeking a two to three city option to fit within the short vacation times they have.

“We’re also seeing around a third of our travellers adding on to our Adventure trips, so the one-week pass keeps the classic flexibility of Hop-on Hop-off while offering more choices for those with limited vacation time.” 

Travelweek: How is Busabout performing in the Canadian market and what sells particularly well here?

Bennett: “Busabout is continuing to thrive in the Canadian market. Following a strong 2017, 2018 saw a roughly 85% increase in trade bookings and we’re currently on track to see roughly 70% growth in 2019.

“In Canada, Hop-on Hop-off with multiple buys is selling well. We’ve seen travellers creating their perfect adventure by pairing our Festivals, Small Group Adventures, Island Hopping and Adventures trips with the Hop-on Hop-off Europe network to customize their trip from beginning to end. As well, our traditionally strong selling destinations of Croatia, Greece and Italy continue to sell well in Canada.” 

Grafitti Alley

Travelweek: Can you offer any selling tips for Busabout’s small group adventure program?

Bennett: “Time and time again we’ve received feedback from our guests saying they want more intimate, smaller group adventures and unique experiences. Our new Small Group Adventures offer agents’ clients just that: the perfect combination of the classic can’t-miss cities and off-the-beaten-path destinations to create a more personalized and memorable adventure to match what young travellers are seeking. Clients will also spend multiple nights in each spot so they will really experience each destination rather than just seeing it, with intimate cultural exploration, epic inclusions and plenty of time to explore like a local.

“Another great tip for agents when trying to close a sale is on price. Young travellers are often price conscious, so agents can use our Small Group Adventures as a way to sell to clients looking for a cost-effective vacation. The Small Group Adventures come at a great value for travellers’ money, costing approximately $130 per day.”

Travelweek: What role do travel agents play in Busabout’s success?

Bennett: “Travel agents play a significant role in Busabout’s success. With the growth we have seen and continue to see through trade bookings over the past couple of years, we see our loyal travel agent partners as the real foundation for driving our mutual businesses. Busabout offers a range of completely unique adventures, so the diversity we bring to our agent’s client offerings will continue to help them in closing more and more sales.”