With a legacy spanning more than a century, Collette continues to shine as one of the preferred choices for both travel advisors and their clients.
Collette handles all the nitty-gritty details so you can focus on what you do best: supporting and connecting with your clients.
Ron Lonsdale, Director of Strategic Partnerships – Canada, who’s been with Collette for 30 years, says groups are an integral part of the business, accounting for about 40 per cent of revenue.
“Groups with us are risk-free. There’s no upfront deposit to hold group space and we don’t require any minimum number of travellers for groups. We also have guaranteed departures and guaranteed pricing,” he says.
5 Benefits of Booking Groups with Collette
As a travel advisor, you’re well aware of the demands of group trips. Your clients trust you to create memorable, hassle-free journeys that exceed their expectations.
Whether you have clients interested in joining a guided tour, or are planning your own tour, here are some of the top reasons travel advisors turn to Collette when booking groups:
Expertise with the oldest major tour operator in North America, leading group tours since 1918.
Collette’s century-plus-long legacy speaks volumes. Collette has been crafting immersive travel experiences since 1918, ensuring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry. And also – trust.
“What really stands out at Collette is our integrity, which can be summed up in our pandemic story where we gave clients all of their money back. That’s over CAD$230 million in cash, not vouchers,” says Paul Holly, Partnership Marketing Manager at Collette.
“Also, the fact that we offer advanced commission for agents and our true ‘cancel for any reason until the day before departure’ all speak to the company culture of doing the right thing.”
As expected, Collette’s expansive range of destinations spans the globe, offering everything from iconic European cities to exotic, far-flung gems. And tour managers are vetted local experts who provide unparalleled insights.
Less than three-minute hold for groups department!
Collette’s customer support team is dedicated to ensuring you and your clients have access to expert assistance if any issues arise before, during, or after the trip.
“Our client care centre picks up the phone within three minutes. That means the advisor can do a transaction within 15 to 20 minutes and make $1,500 to $1,700 in commission – that’s over $6,000 an hour, if you look at it that way,” says Lonsdale.
A local Collette representative will help you plan and promote your tour
From free personalized marketing support to a customized web page for your tour, Collette empowers travel advisors with the resources they need to shine. Your group planning will always stay one step ahead.
“If there’s one thing we do exceptionally well, it’s how we assist the advisor. They get assigned a local BDM who supports them every step of the way to promote their tour and answer their questions. It’s more of a collaboration between the advisor and the BDM,” says Longsdale.
An advisor planning group travel receives free promotional tools, including in-person and virtual presentations, a custom group landing page, and dedicated e-blasts, all using beautiful, high-quality videos and pictures to fuel the anticipation.
“Although we want to be sensitive of sustainability and saving trees, we also have printed flyers. All this brands the advisor or agency and allows them to have more community engagement by promoting groups,” says Lonsdale.
Collette leverages advances in technology to streamline the logistics. From online reservation forms to digital marketing, Collette’s tech tools simplify the booking process, making it easier for travel advisors to secure group reservations.
“We’re finding that over 80 per cent of the guests or clients are registering using the online reservation forms. It’s more efficient, seamless, and effortless,” Lonsdale says.
Easy opportunities to earn more
Collette offers upfront guaranteed advance commission, and many opportunities for travel advisors to maximize their earnings, from added excursions and tour extensions to back-to-back tours. Your clients can add a day, a few days, or even an entire tour to their itinerary with zero hassle. Plus, the more you book before your group departs, the more commission you earn.
What’s more, if advisors book 15 paying passengers, they earn a complimentary seat.
“We’re finding that there’s been a 40 per cent increase in spend on vacations. People are taking more expensive and longer journeys, and a good percentage are including deviations, which is great because we pay a service fee or commission on pre- nights and post- nights,” adds Lonsdale.
“We’re not an options-driven company, so we have very few options – but the options that we do offer, the advisor earns 5 per cent commission on.”
Inclusive tours that include both the must-sees and also unique local experiences – not one or the other.
Collette offers outstanding value for group travellers, with competitive pricing and inclusions that add significant value to the trip.
“Our business model is much more inclusive. We’re more of a premium operator with a five-star experience and three-and-a-half star pricing,” says Lonsdale.
All air-inclusive tours on groups of 10 or more can enjoy hometown pickup, where Collette transports the group to and from the airport. Guests also receive more meals included in their tour and less optional tours that they have to pay for.
