Based on its successful launch of an Independent Journeys portfolio early this year, luxury adventure tour operator Travcoa plans to expand the product line for next year and has published a dedicated Independent Journeys brochure.
"Although we're still best known for our small-group Escorted Journeys, the popularity of Independent Journeys continues to grow very rapidly, and we're dedicating more resources and attention to this market," said Jerre Fuqua, president of the El Segundo, Calif.-based operator.
"It's a natural extension for Travcoa that makes excellent use of our travel-planning expertise and worldwide contacts."
Travcoa's Independent Journeys are a collection of more than 50 prepackaged itineraries for couples, families and small groups of friends. Fuqua said the itineraries are custom-built packages that combine Travcoa's advance arrangements, including private-guide touring, private cars and airport transfers, select meals and luxury hotels, with flexibility for independent traveler choices.
Perry Lungmus, Travcoa's vice president of sales, said the robust bookings the company is enjoying this year are "entirely due to growing agent awareness of our Independent Journeys concept."
"We've been offering FIT services for many years," he noted, "but we've seen increased interest in Travcoa independent travel because we're offering a new product to the luxury-adventure marketplace that's uniquely positioned in three ways."
According to Lungmus, the preplanned trips offer agents the convenience of booking cruises or group travel without the effort, time and typical cost of crafting a full FIT.
Travcoa, he added, offers the financial security of a publicly held company that's a member of reputable organizations such as USTOA, ATTA, Virtuoso and Signature. "This is all obviously important in today's economic environment," Lungmus said.
The profile of the typical Travcoa traveler is a professional or entrepreneur ages 60 or older with a net worth of $2 million or more, Lungmus said. The typical Travcoa client, he added, travels three to five times a year and particularly values small-ship cruising. The highest concentrations of its customers hail from Southern California, the New York tri-state area, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.
Lungmus said the top five, best-selling trips this year are Cambodia, Thailand and Laos, 12 nights from $3,345 per person; Egypt, seven nights from $5,795 per person; Peru and Machu Picchu, seven nights from $4,240 per person; Syria, eight nights from $4,150 per person; and Russia, nine nights from $5,675 per person.
Agents can view all of the company's FIT itineraries at www.travcoa.com.