Tour operators are gearing up for the new year with a bounty of new offers and itineraries around the globe.
Discover Your Italy (discoveryouritaly.com), which offers culturally immersive vacations, has released two new itineraries—Italy Hiking Discovery and The Spirits of Italy. The latter focuses on local spirits, and includes cocktail master classes and vermouth-making workshops while touring Milan, Turin and Venice. On the Italy Hiking Discovery, active guests explore Capri, Positano, Rome, Chianti, Tuscany, Manarola and Cogne.
For LGBTQ clients, PrideWorld (prideworldtravel.com), part of The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands, has added Costa Rica and Switzerland to its portfolio, which currently offers tours to Cuba, Greece, London, Peru and France. Rates for the Costa Rica itinerary, which starts in San Jose, continues to the Arenal Volcano and ends in Manuel Antonio National Park, start at $1,948 pp dbl for travel Nov. 3-9, 2016.
Travcoa (travcoa.com) is also expanding its portfolio of luxury offerings by partnering with sister companies TCS World Travel and Zegrahm Expeditions. TCS offers travel by private jet with around-the-world itineraries, while Zegrahm takes guests to remote destinations; by combining these three brands, Travcoa can now offer personalized travel experiences in more than 150 countries.
More tours to Central and South America have been added to Avanti Destinations’ lineup (avantidestinations.com), 55 of them to be exact. In addition, three new destinations will also be offered including Laguna de Apoyo in Nicaragua, Isla Mucura off the Caribbean coast of Colombia, and the Esteros del Ibera wetlands in Argentina. Details of the itineraries are now available in the operator’s 116-page, 2017 Essence of Central and South America brochure.
Cosmos (cosmos.com) is also adding more travel opportunities to South and Central America with new itineraries to Brazil and Argentina for 2017. The 11-day Vineyards of South America itinerary, for example, takes guests to Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Santiago and Santa Cruz, with excursions to Uco and Colchagua valleys; it also includes a cooking class and a wine blending experience. Rates start at $4,479 pp.
Insight Vacations (insightvacations.com/us) has unveiled it 2017 USA, Canada and South America portfolio, showcasing four brand-new itineraries, three of which offer deeper explorations into South America with the addition of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and the Galapagos Islands. In North America, the operator is now offering the 23-day Grand Tour of the American West (starting at $7,196 pp) that visits the country’s national parks while traversing seven states. Tell clients the early bird gets the worm, as they can save 10 percent on select Premium and Luxury tours through the Early Payment Discount; must be booked and paid in full by Jan. 12. Plus, those traveling to South America can cash in on up to $800 savings per couple on flights booked with LATAM airlines.
For those clients who enjoy cruise travel, Mayflower Tours (mayflowertours.com) has debuted the 9-day Baja Peninsula and Mexican Riviera Cruise featuring a 7-night cruise aboard the Norwegian Jewel with stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazaltan and Cabo San Lucas; rates start at $1,289 pp dbl.
And the United Arab Emirates is now available through Journese (journese.com) on the Discover Enchanting Arabia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi itinerary.
Meanwhile, GOGO Vacations (gogowwv.com) is celebrating its 65th anniversary with the recent launch of GOGO Rewards, which rewards agents with bonuses, increased commissions, trips, airline tickets, cash, gift cards and more. The GOGO Rewards perks and how agents can earn them will change monthly to address various markets, travel patterns and seasons—some months it might be sweepstakes based, and agents will earn everything from bonus commissions to exclusive booking offers, or even free trips.
Current deals with GOGO include a 4-night package to Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa from $865, bookable through Oct. 21; and an 8-night Moorea & Bora Bora package from $2,269, bookable through Nov. 30.
