Six Reasons For Hope From Globus

Hope springs eternal, as the saying goes.

Certainly, for the travel industry in this country, the past week has brought some good news – two vaccines in late stage trials and interim results from the pilot testing study at Pearson airport.

And clearly, beyond the reasons already noted, the gang at Globus family of brands (GFOB) has their own reasons for hope … six of them actually.

In a briefing last week, GFOB’s managing director, Stéphanie Bishop observed that hope is a “timely” theme and the “industry is well-positioned to be feeling that way. Globus is feeling pretty good.”

Although Bishop added that the “devil is always in the details,” however, be that as it may, GFOB has been working with different concepts [with its programs] in order to give travellers something to enjoy.

Bishop also pointed out that for travel advisors, there’s a big opportunity due to the fact that two-thirds of future travel credits that have been issued have yet to be used. And she made it clear that for advisors this definitely a good reason for them to be reaching out to those clients to determine what their travel plans are going forward.

As for the booking outlook, Bishop noted that for GFOB it’s a blend of some new bookings, but a larger portion are moving their bookings to latter half of 2021.

With Canada receiving a lot of attention from the trade in the summer, Bishop pointed out that GFOB has always had a Canadian portfolio of product and going forward it will now be putting a stronger focus on it and promising that there is more Canadian product to come from the company.

GFOB’s managing director also said that there is increasing demand from travel advisors for more training on selling Canadian product and the company has been responding to this demand.

As well, the company has also been reaching out a number of Canadian partners as it prepares to grow Canada as a destination.

For Bishop, there’s no doubt that the quarantine rules will be lifted one day and while she admitted that there are lots of things that “we can’t control, we have to worry about what we can control.”

And that, she continued, means that the Globus family of brands has to be ready and to help travel advisors be ready for when travel returns.

To that end, Globus is offering travel advisors six ways to help their clients plan their path back to travel in 2021.

Check them out and be prepared:

!!! Off-Season Escapes: Thinner Crowds, Thicker Wallets — Many people assume that summer is the best time to travel and explore the world. Wrong. The off-season temperatures, fewer crowds and better deals make November – March the best time to escape. In fact, Escapes by Globus – vacations featuring low season departures and great value (they are priced between 30 – 40% below other, high season itineraries) – offer a great option on travellers’ journey back. Some great Escapes, scheduled for the fall of 2021, include:

• Scottish Highlands Escape, 6 days priced from $1,019
• North of Ireland Escape, 7 days priced from $1,169
• Swiss Escape, 8 days priced from $1,589
• Sicilian Escape, 7 days priced from $1,379
• Southern Italy Escape, 9 days priced from $1,589

!!! Small-Group Discoveries: Small Groups, Big Experiences — Very few of us travel in isolation. Instead, when we explore the world, we share experiences with wayfarers from across the globe. In 2021, Globus and Cosmos are making their group experiences even smaller with Small-Group Discovery tours on all itineraries in North America, Europe, Central & South America, Asia, Africa and select departures in the South Pacific. With an average of just 24 guests per tour departure, these Small-Group Discoveries promise room to roam while getting up-close and personal with fascinating places.

Fun fact: While the Globus family of brands has offered Small-Group Discovery tours in Asia and Africa for quite some time, the company used our 2020 “time-out” to extend this special offering to every itinerary worldwide! This announcement was made earlier this month. The average cost difference is the price of a typical room upgrade. The value for 2021 is immeasurable.

Its Top 5, most popular tours that travellers can now book as Small-Group Discoveries include:

• Globus Newfoundland & Labrador
• Cosmos Irish Discovery
• Globus Portugal in Depth
• Cosmos Seven Countries, Venice & Paris
• Globus Celtic Highlights

!!! European Private Tours: Explore the Globe without the Rest of the World — Designed for parties from two to two dozen, Globus’ and Cosmos’ Private Touring program invites travellers to enjoy the benefits of taking a European tour, while handpicking their travel companions. Whether they’re interested in gathering a party of friends for an overdue reunion or are planning a multigenerational family affair, both Globus and Cosmos Private Tours in Europe invite travellers to enjoy the journey in a new, more intimate way with a dedicated Tour Director, private transportation and local guides, VIP sightseeing and greater flexibility.

Fun fact: The Globus family of brands introduced Globus Private Touring in 2018, paving the way for the program to be extended to Cosmos for 2021.

!!! Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures: More to Discover in Places Less Travelled — On their journey back to travel, both Globus and Cosmos are inviting travellers to trade the roar of Rome for the tranquility of Tuscany; the clamor of city crowds for the calm of North America’s countryside; the sea of tourists for the quiet coasts of Scotland. To wander without worry, trek without trepidation and discover the space they need with “Undiscovered” tours in Italy, Great Britain, the Mediterranean and (new for 2021) North America.

Fun fact: Well before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Globus family of brands was building off-the-beaten-path tours featuring North America as part of its wildly popular “Undiscovered” touring program. Timing could not have been better to unveil special journeys, closer to home. The company’s NEW “Undiscovered North America” program features 9 tours, ranging from eight (8) to 14 days, launching in 2021. They are:

• NEW – Globus Bourbon, Bridles & Bluegrass (8 days, priced from $3,369)
• NEW – Globus Lost Canyons of the Southwest (9 days, priced from $3,709)
• NEW – Globus New England & The Hudson Valley (10 days, priced from $4,269)
• NEW – Globus Southern California Charms (10 days, priced from $4,889)
• NEW – Cosmos Exploring the Pacific Northwest (9 days, priced from $2,549)
• Globus Québec In Depth with the Gaspé Peninsula (11 days, priced from $4,189)
• Cosmos Alaska & the Yukon (12 days, priced from $3,579)
• Cosmos Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains (14 days, priced from $3,149)
• Cosmos Western Canada with Inside Passage (13 days, priced from $3,689)

!!! On Your Own Exploration: A Better Way to Go — There are different ways to travel. People can choose to go with a group … They can choose a do-it-yourself vacation… Or, they can choose something in-between. Something that’s better than going it alone. It’s called Monograms and there’s nothing else like it. And, there’s never been a better time to use Monograms and explore the world independently, WITH expert help. From vacation planning to on-trip logistics – including the services of an on-site Local Host – Monograms is with travellers every step of the way.

Fun fact: For 2021, we have unveiled NEW, OFF-SEASON Monograms Europe and, for the first time, North America itineraries. They are:

• EUROPE: London; London and Paris; Rome and Florence as well as Rome, Florence & Venice.
• US: New Orleans, Nashville, San Diego and San Francisco

!!! Boat-ique-Style Sailing: The Possibilities Are As Wide Open As the Views — River cruise travellers know it’s possible to cruise without a crowd, to explore new cultures with ease and sail in intimate settings. To enjoy the company of an expert Cruise Director, appealing crew-to-passenger ratios, seamless dock-and-go sightseeing. River cruising with Avalon Waterways is, quite simply, a picture-perfect way to see and explore the world … especially now.