Escorted Tours & Tour Operator Assessment Study Notes

Definition & Basic Concepts

• Tour (Excursion/Holiday)

  • Bundles multiple travel services into a single, combined trip sold for one fare.

  • Services commonly packaged:

  • Accommodation

  • Transportation (land/air/water)

  • Meals (as listed)

  • Attractions & admission fees

  • Professional tour guide / leader / director

• Escorted Tour

  • A tour in which travelers are accompanied throughout by a tour director who manages logistics, provides commentary, and ensures inclusions are delivered.

  • Typically follows a pre-arranged, multi-city itinerary using private or public transport.

Major Tour Operators (Brand Landscape)

• Mass-market / First-Class / Premium brands: Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Globus, Cosmos, Collette, Luxury Gold, Uniworld, Avalon Waterways.

• Youth / Adventure / Active: Contiki (#NoRegrets), G Adventures, Intrepid, Topdeck, Tucan Travel, Exodus, Free & Easy Traveler.

• Regional specialists: Jonview (Canada), AAT Kings (AU/NZ), Anderson Vacations, Atlantic Tours, Fresh Tracks Canada.

• Value or cost-savvy: Costsaver, Cosmos, Monograms (semi-independent), Worry-Free World Vacations.

• Industry trend slogan: “Travel can change the world. But first we need to change travel.” (Retravel campaign)

Assessing an Escorted Tour Operator

1. Reputation / Brand

   • Strong reputation builds confidence to \text{(a)} pre-pay, \text{(b)} trust advertising, and \text{(c)} manage expectations.

   • Example: Trafalgar’s “Italian Glory” 13-day tour rated 4.7/5 from 322 independent reviews.

2. Group Size

   • Ranges 6\rightarrow60 pax (passengers).

   • Categories:

     • Small group: 5\text{–}22 travelers.

     • Mid/Large: >22 travelers (e.g.

     • Mid-size ≈ 22 pax.

     • Large coach ≈ 45 pax.)

   • Size influences pace, accommodation type, vehicle size, and social dynamics.

3. Transportation Modes

   • Public: trains, local buses, taxis; feasible with small groups for immersive experiences.

   • Private:

     • Large coaches for >22 pax.

     • Mini-buses/vans for 5\text{–}15 pax.

     • Overland trucks in remote regions.

   • Branding decals often displayed (e.g., Contiki, G Adventures licensed vehicles).

4. Accommodation

   • Star rating varies by tour style (budget, first-class, deluxe, luxury).

   • Operators may offer parallel product lines (e.g., Globus First-Class vs Luxury Gold deluxe).

   • Special stays possible: jungle rafts, overnight trains, guesthouses, boutique hotels.

5. Target Market & Themes

   • Age-specific: Contiki (18-35), Costsaver (value-focused adults), Luxury Gold (affluent mature travelers).

   • Psychographic themes: active, biking, history, religious, culinary, river cruising.

6. Inclusions

   • Meals: clearly itemized (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Watch wording: “hot buffet breakfast” vs “continental”.

   • Attractions: distinction between “see/view” (drive-by), “visit” (enter/experience), “included” vs optional.

   • Gratuities: may be included or traveler’s responsibility—check T&Cs.

7. Itinerary & Pace

   • Indicators such as “easy-going”, “in-depth”, “faster-paced”.

   • Evaluate time at each stop, free time blocks, and optional add-ons.

   • “Time in port” concept borrowed from cruising; relevant to land tours too.

8. Guaranteed Departures (GD)

   • A GD runs regardless of final numbers once minimum is met.

   • Some operators now advertise 100 % GD across their calendar.

Price Mechanics & Deals

• Per Diem Calculation

  • \text{Per diem}=\dfrac{\text{Total tour price}}{\text{Number of days}}

  • Example: \$6159/20=\$307.95 CAD per day.

• Early Booking Bonus (EBB)

  • Financial incentive to book early, e.g.

  • “\$400 off per family if booked \ge4 months ahead.”

  • “Save \$150 pp if booked by Dec 10.”

• Occupancy Assumptions

  • Base price is usually twin/double share (two adults).

  • Single Supplement: extra fee for a private room (aka “My Own Room”).

  • Triple Reduction: small discount when three share a room.

• Bundling Airfare

  • Booking air with the tour operator offers “peace of mind” if a non-guaranteed tour cancels—operator absorbs change fees.

  • Long-haul (gateway–destination) flights are usually optional; intra-tour flights (Asia, S. America) are included in tour cost.

Reading & Interpreting Sample Tour Collateral

• Elements you’ll encounter on websites/brochures:

  • Overview & selling story.

  • Detailed itinerary with day-by-day descriptions.

  • Meals tally (e.g., 12\text{B} + 5\text{D}).

  • “What’s Included” list.

  • Maps with icons: overnight count, start/end city, internal flights, UNESCO sites, cruise segments.

  • Dates, prices, savings column, “Definite” status flag.

  • Deposit amount (e.g., \$99 to secure spot).

  • Rooming/pricing breakdown tables (single vs triple shown on Page 34).

Optional Excursions – Policy Insight

• Offered via MyGlobus site 90 days pre-tour; priced in tiers: \$ (≤50), \$\$ (51–100), \$\$\$ (101–150), \$\$\$\$ (>150).

• Coordinated to avoid schedule conflicts; leverage local expert partners.

Sample Accommodation Profile (Moderate Deluxe)

• Stamford Plaza Auckland (22-26 Albert St.)

  • Amenities: on-site restaurants & bars, pool, hot-tub, gym, concierge, free Wi-Fi.

  • Room features: in-room safe, mini-bar, A/C, coffee maker, hair dryer, TV, desk, iron.

  • Services: laundry, luggage storage, currency exchange, parking/valet, spa.

Terms & Conditions (T&C) Snapshot

• Deposit & final payment timelines.

• Change/cancellation penalties.

• Gratuity policy.

• Travel insurance recommendation.

Ethical & Practical Implications Discussed

• “Retravel” ethos: Using tourism as a force for good; re-designing travel to be more sustainable post-pandemic.

• Elephant sanctuaries (e.g., Elephant Haven) stressing animal welfare.

• COPE Visitor Centre in Laos: highlights social responsibility toward UXO victims.

• Friends TREE Alliance Restaurant: supports local youth with vocational training.

Study Tips & Connections

• Relate group size and transportation to cost structure and experience style.

• Compare per diem across operators to judge value but always cross-check inclusions.

• Use GD status + EBB strategy when advising clients on booking windows.

• Always verify wording in inclusions ("view" vs "visit") to set accurate expectations.

• Link optional excursions to psychographic segmentation—helps upsell but maintain realistic budgeting for clients.

• Be mindful of occupancy assumptions when quoting: single supplements can add 30\text{–}50\% to trip cost.