TORONTO — Demand for solo travel is hitting new heights as solo vacationers double down on their wanderlust wish lists – travelling where they want, and when they want, and with who they want: themselves.

While plenty of solo travellers take a DIY approach to vacation planning and getaways, others want more structure and opportunities for sociability, without sacrificing me-time.

For this multi-part series, we connected with two tour operators and two cruise lines to get the latest on solo travel trends, popular destinations, resources for travel advisors looking to tap into this market and more.

First up: Cosmos, part of the Globus family of brands.

“WE TURN SOLO INTO ‘NOLO’ TRAVEL – SOLO, BUT NEVER ALONE”

Steve Born, Chief Marketing Officer for the Globus family of brands, says that while solo travellers typically comprise about 15% of Cosmos guests, “we expect this number to jump in the coming year. In a recent survey, past guests were asked to share their upcoming travel plans, and 31% of our Canadian respondents indicated that they would travel solo in 2024.”

In fall 2023 the wallet-friendly touring brand announced it was waiving the single supplement on select 2024 tours in North America and Europe.

With only five ‘no single supplement’ spaces set aside for each departure, solo travellers are advised to book early. The booking window runs through July 31 for travel throughout 2024.

Itineraries include Italy, Spain & Portugal, Greece, Ireland and the U.S. National Parks – some of the company’s most popular destinations.

Born says Cosmos saw the rise in solo travel interest coming out of the pandemic.

“During that hiatus, travel intent [became] stronger, with more people unwilling to hold off on travel plans in an effort to match interests and availability with a partner or travelling party,” he says.

Born adds that Cosmos “has quietly emerged as the touring brand for solo travellers. Our vacation price-points combined with the all-in-one vacation package offer puts the dream of travel within reach, with just enough support and socialization to balance freedom and support. With Cosmos, we turn solo into ‘nolo’ travel – solo, but never alone.”

Travelweek asked Born what advice Cosmos has for agents looking to close more sales with solo traveller clients.

“Today’s solo travel candidates have little to do with marital status,” Born points out. “More and more people driven by wanderlust are choosing travel occasions outside of a traditional couple mix. So don’t wait for clients to come to you with a solo request. We encourage our advisors to be proactive and use their power of suggestion with clients to present solo-friendly options as a part of their marketing and outreach efforts. Use our Cosmos single supplement waiver tours to get the conversation started.”

More details about Cosmos’ solo travel offering can be found here.

Watch for the second installment in the Solo Travel series in Travelweek Daily next week