R ESCORTED TOURS LUXURY TOURING DESTINATIONS


Smooth


With luxury touring on the rise, escorted trips don’t


have to mean roughing it, writes Laura French


@laurafrench121 T


he words ‘escorted touring’ might once have conjured up images of big groups trundling on and off packed coaches, with a long checklist of must-see activities to rattle through. Yet these days those stereotypes couldn’t be further from the truth. A growing array of luxury tours takes the opposite approach,


offering boutique hotels, small group sizes, unique access and immersive experiences that veer away from the tourist track without compromising on comfort. Interest in these is on the rise,


according to Paul Melinis, head of sales for Insight Vacations. “Luxury touring is certainly in demand,” he says. “Since


ride


launching Luxury Gold, we’ve seen an increase in interest from travellers looking for a luxury product that delivers great value.” That’s good news for your


wallet, as these tours mean higher-value bookings and, in turn, increased commission. And if they impress, they might just bring some repeat business your way, too.


◗ TOP-END TREND There are several factors driving the rise in demand for luxury tours. Lee Hamilton, manager of specialist sales at Prestige Holidays, says: “Itineraries can be very complex, and people’s lives are busier now, so they might opt for an organised tour because they don’t have the time to undertake all the planning.”


15 June 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 57


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