Tauck is ready to welcome guests. In an email to guests and travel advisors, CEO Dan Mahar revealed Tauck’s plans to fully restart its U.S. tours by July 1. The announcement noted that departures of Tauck’s Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head and Charleston itinerary have already begun operating, to be followed this month by New Orleans & Mississippi River Country, with other popular tours across the country relaunching in the coming months.
In January and February Tauk showed its eagerness to restart its U.S. operations when it ran several departures of its Wonderland: Yellowstone in Winter itinerary. “Guests told us they loved their tours, and their positive feedback proved conclusively that we can deliver a true Tauck-level experience while still following all of the appropriate health and safety protocols,” said Mahar, in press materials.
Tauck’s U.S. journeys offer unique access to exclusive experiences ranging from “inside the park” accommodations at America’s premier national parks to itineraries crafted in partnership with the award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns.
Today’s announcement was made in a “Porchlight” email from Mahar, the latest in a series of themed Porchlight updates the CEO has provided since the start of the pandemic. (To view the lastest Porchlight announcement click here.)
Tauck has been working with its network of supplier-partners on plans to restart its tours. The company’s Worldwide Operations team communicates continuously with more than 2,000 attractions, national parks, hotels, restaurants, guest lecturers and others involved in the delivery of its tour experiences, all while developing health and safety protocols and monitoring developments in 70+ countries around the world.
The health and safety protocols will be included on all of Tauck’s 2021 itineraries, and will include the mandatory use of masks, social distancing wherever possible, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures. Tauck is also requiring guests to complete and sign a Travel Well Pledge, which confirms that they have either been vaccinated against COVID-19 or passed a PCR COVID-19 test within five days of departure, that they are free of virus-related symptoms, and that they have not been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with Covid-19. The latest updates on Tauck’s travel policies, and the status of destinations served by the company, are featured in a Travel and Health page on the Tauck website.
While the announcement from Tauck refers only to its domestic trips, the company hopes to provide an update on selected international itineraries in the coming weeks. A recent survey of more than 5,000 guests booked to travel with Tauck from now through September revealed that a full 95 percent of respondents have already been vaccinated, and another 2 percent have their vaccinations scheduled. And while a small proportion of guests remain undecided, the overwhelming majority—a full 88 percent—are looking forward to taking their upcoming Tauck trip as planned.
The ability and willingness to travel shown by Tauck’s guests are reflected in the strong bookings the company is seeing for its U.S. tours. And although Mahar stated that a number of departures are sold out, he also noted that availability remains on several of the company’s domestic itineraries, including America’s Canyonlands, The Best of Hawaii and Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head and Charleston.
Travel advisors can access information on tour departures at the new Open for Travel page on Tauck’s website.
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