With Canadian travellers returning to travel in “droves in 2023, the Globus family of brands is expecting a record year in Canada, says the company’s managing director.
Stéphanie Bishop says, “We’re preparing to close 2022 with some incredibly strong booking trends for the New Year. Destinations that are leading the way back to travel for us are Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, and France.
“In fact,” she continues, “early 2023 sales for Italy, Scotland and Ireland are at 93% of total 2022 numbers, indicating that our Canadian office is on target to break some travel records next year.”
Also proving popular in the New Year, according to Bishop, are Escapes by Globus, which provide travellers value-oriented off-season travel opportunities, and the company’s new flexible Choice Touring travel style in North America to Europe.
As for river cruising, Active & Discovery itineraries are leading the wave for Avalon Waterways, with the special interest offering having grown 560% since launching in 2017, says Bishop. For 2023, the company is providing cruisers with eight ‘Active & Discovery’ itineraries and 53 departures comprising 14% of Avalon’s total cruising portfolio.
This fall, Avalon Waterways announced that a new Suite Ship – the Avalon Alegria – and itinerary (“Vida Portugal”) on the Douro River will be introduced in 2024. The company is enjoying early booking success for the new ship and itinerary with 40% of capacity already sold, more than 18 months before launch.
To react to these booking trends and prepare for a return to “regular” next year, Bishop says that the Globus family of brands’ Canadian sales and marketing teams have grown by 60% with eight new hires in the last six months.
Joining the company in recent months are Ainsley Ericksen, senior director of marketing; Michelle Lebel, BDM for Quebec and Atlantic Canada and Maurizio Mazzola, BDM for greater Toronto and Northern Ontario; Carolina Suarez, BDM for Eastern Ontario and Ottawa and Alex Mrazek, digital specialist. New hires, filling newly created positions for the company, include Elisha Bouwer, sales project coordinator; Sherri King, marketing coordinator; and Anisa Saeed, manager of digital marketing.
“The 2023 travel season,” says Bishop, “is off to an exciting start.”