A World Of Discovery

Does the old adage that there’s strength in numbers apply to the travel industry?

Well, a certain segment of the industry thinks that’s the case.

Chile-based explora, which has upscale resorts in remote parts of South America, teamed up with The Moorings, which offers rentals of boats in the Caribbean, the South Pacific and the Mediterranean; Quark Expeditions, which has polar sailings; and TCS World Travel, which uses private jets to whisk clients to often remote parts of the world; for a Wednesday night Toronto gathering that familiarized agents with their products.

The Moorings, TCS and Quark are owned by Britain-based Travelopia.

The event – billed as a “world of discovery” – saw all four companies update agents on what they offer in a friendly format.

“We can all promote together because it’s non-competitive,” said Dallyce Macas, Canadian representative for explora.

The format also won the approval of Toronto-based travel agent Gloria Cavlovic of Adria Travel, who said the non-mainstream evening gave attending agents “four-for the price of one” updates. “It’s a lot more interesting.”

Also welcoming the opportunity to learn about four markedly different companies in the same evening was Ann Fairlie of Merit Travel, who labelled the “one-stop informational evening” a “great idea.”

Macas noted explora now has “upmarket all-included” properties in several destinations, among them northern Chile’s Atacama desert, considered the driest desert in the world. Atacama has “the clearest skies in the world,” she said. “We’re not about an adult daycamp…We’re about immersing them (clients with the locals in these areas.”

Cara Matthew of Quark Expeditions said that company is “uncompromisingly polar,” having sailings in both the Arctic and Antarctica.

The company likes to focus on “off-ship experiences” that can include overnight camping in Antarctica, hiking and sea kayaking, with one of its guides having circumnavigated New Zealand by kayak.

Brooke Galloway of TCS World Travel said said that company’s clients may find themselves travelling the world on a luxury B757 that features the likes of 52 first class flat-bed seats, visiting such exotic locales as Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat and Petra. The company likes to provide clients with such touches as dinner on the Great Wall of China.

Greg Marlo of The Moorings reported The Moorings’ clients can opt for crewed power or sailboats or crew the boats themselves. Clients aren’t bound by an itinerary, unlike those who vacation on large cruise ships. “You never miss the boat because the boat waits for you”

In the photo

Seen here are Matthew; Kat Ames, TCS World Travel; Galloway; Marlo; and Macas.