As the premier FIT tour operator we keep our finger on the pulse of trends in independent travel. Here you'll find some of the top News stories that feature Avanti as well as our own Press Releases.
Avanti Destinations, a custom FIT tour operator that sells exclusively through travel advisors, has launched its 2024 Go365 campaign. Each year, the initiative by Avanti encourages advisors to book off-season trips from October through March. The company released a 50-page e-brochure and will host a webinar focusing on winter and wellness vacations in both cold and warm destinations. Read More
FIT tour operator Avanti Destinations has appointed two industry veterans to regional sales director positions. Amie Gribbon joins the company as North Central regional sales director, while Ken Pringle joins as Mountain West regional sales director. Both report to Gina Bang, chief sales and marketing officer at Avanti. Read More
Custom tour operator Avanti Destinations is offering a new way for travelers and their travel advisors to easily access important travel documents: the new Mobile Documents app, available on all mobile devices. Read More
Avanti Destinations has launched a "Last-Minute Booking" phone line for travel advisors with new clients who are in a hurry to travel or clients who have delayed their decision about where to go this summer. The last-minute booking phone line, 1-888-970-0341, is fully dedicated for advisors needing to book a trip seven to 30 days before client departure. Read More
According to the Development Bank of Japan and the Japan Travel Bureau Foundation, inbound travel to Japan has been rising steadily for the past couple of years, with visitor numbers surpassing 2019. "In Asia — whether for FITs or for groups, the most frequently booked country is Japan, and within Japan, the most popular combination of destinations for independent travelers is Toyko, Kyoto and Osaka," says Ricarda Haeger, Director of Avanti Destinations' Group Sales and Operations. To aid in booking this trending destination, Avanti recently debuted its Groups website. "Travel advisors can gain insights into the distinctions between preformed and affinity groups, along with ideas on how to find partners to expand their reach for promoting trips," says Haeger. Read More
Avanti Destinations will reward travel advisors with gift cards for land bookings during National Travel Advisor Month in May. The wholesale tour operator, which sells exclusively through advisors, will award agents with a $25 gift card for each land booking of $5,000 or more made between May 1 and May 31, for travel any time before Dec. 31, 2024. Read More
Avanti Destinations announced the appointment of three industry veterans to sales positions: Michel Madjerich, formerly Southeast Regional Sales Director, is now Director of National Accounts; Christina De Falco is Northeast Regional Sales Director; and Paula Ruidiaz is Southeast Regional Sales Director. All three report to Gina Bang, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Avanti. Read More
Recommend had the opportunity recently to sit down with Paul Barry, Avanti Destinations' CEO, gathering insightful intel on the industry as a whole as well as the FIT tour operator's unique approach to its vacation offerings. It's about sustainability — sustaining a destination in its most authentic state, giving back to the local people, treading lightly and allowing travelers to experience the unique qualities of the places they are visiting, Barry tells Recommend. Via its custom-crafted independent vacations, Avanti Destinations, he says, focuses on just this type of travel, which allows for freedom of movement, a leisurely pace and embracing the destination. Read More
To support advisors in expanding their groups business, Avanti has launched a new Groups webpage on the company's travel advisor portal, featuring 10 sample group itineraries spanning various segments of group travel such as special interest groups, educational groups, sports fans, corporate groups, and spiritual and religious groups. Read More
While some travelers opt for traditional hotels, all-inclusives, or mega cruise ships for their vacations, others desire accommodations that are more unique. This is where travel advisors can really shine, recommending standout properties that give their clients elevated, once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, along with impressive bragging rights. Read More
FIT tour operator AVANTI DESTINATIONS has expanded its Ecuador lineup to include the new 12-day Ecuador's Natural Wonders itinerary. Ideal for combining the country's top attractions, the trip includes Quito, the Amazon region and a fournight Galapagos Islands cruise. Highlights range from visiting Indigenous communities to a trip to Cotopaxi National Park, a private Quito city tour and more. Read More
![Paul Barry](https://book.avantidestinations.com/cms/news/travelagewestarticlepaul2024.png?1708728436019")
Discover how we at Avanti Destinations are dedicated to supporting Travel Advisors and continuously expanding our portfolio to provide the most robust resources! Read and share this exclusive interview from TravelAge West, in which our CEO, Paul Barry, discusses our recent additions and innovations in detail. Read More
Wholesale custom tour operator Avanti Destinations has appointed Gina Bang Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, reporting to CEO Paul Barry. Sales previously reported to John Hanratty, who remains Senior VP Industry Relations. Read More
Avanti Destinations and Belize Tourism Board are partnering to offer new FIT experiences in the increasingly popular destination, along with selling tools for travel advisors. Avanti, a tour operator that sells only to advisors and not directly to consumers, has added new itineraries, hotels, and resorts to its Belize portfolio, and released a new e-brochure, webinar, and booking guide for advisors to refer to when selling Belize to clients. Read More
Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his FIT operator's new South Pacific programs, specifically to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Barry explains why Avanti is expanding beyond Europe, South America, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa to offer tailor-made products in the South Pacific, including suggested itineraries—and why Avanti only works through travel advisors.
Avanti Destinations has added Tenerife—the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, just 186 miles west of the North African coast-to its lineup of European destinations for independent travelers. Read More
Each of these villas offers different experiences, such as wine-tasting, gourmet meals with wine-pairing, vineyard tours, cooking classes, candlelight dinners in olive groves, and spa facilities in seven regions around the country, from well-known regions like Tuscany and Piedmont to more off-the-beaten-path ones like Sicily and Sardinia.
Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations, had this say, "If your clients are looking for a tropical paradise with friendly local people, it's hard to top the Philippines."
"We always encourage advisors to suggest destinations beyond the obvious to their FIT clients", said Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations. The Valais-Matterhorn region is an excellent "new" place in Switzerland to recommend, especially for those who enjoy the outdoors in winter or summer."
The platform incorporates the accumulated destination and planning knowledge of its most experienced travel consultants and the massive amount of travel services it offers in all of its destinations.
Wholesale FIT travel specialist Avanti Destinations has launched an e-brochure for travel advisors describing the many reasons Great Britain appeals to independent travel clients, whatever their interests or demographics, and whether they are first-time or repeat travelers to the U.K. Avanti sells custom-crafted independent travel vacations exclusively through travel advisors, not direct to consumers.
Paul Barry, the CEO of Avanti, the operator that exclusively does FIT vacations, told TMR that Avanti, too, has already seen "a positive impact."
"We've seen a significant increase in terms of the number of quotations for FIT travel that have been requested by advisors since the CDC made their announcement. That number is still growing—but at this point, it is about 15% above the number we were receiving before the announcement," he said.
Avanti Destinations has partnered with Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism [DCT], offering customized independent and group travel to Abu Dhabi City, the capital of the United Arab Emirates as well as education and inspiration to inspire travel advisors and their clients.
Avanti Destinations has hired two industry veterans as regional sales directors; Michel Madjerich in the Southeast and Darin Meder in the Northeast. Read More
In honor of National Travel Advisor Day, which this year lands on May 4, 2022, and National Travel Advisor Month, Avanti Destinations is offering a $25 gift card for each FIT land booking of $5,000 or more made between May 1 and May 31, 2022. This offer is valid for travel any time before Dec. 31, 2022 and paid with at least a deposit on land arrangements by the end of the May.
"We have designed this joint campaign and the new itineraries to broaden travelers' experiences beyond the capital, Edinburgh, and to take in amazing sights the average tourist misses," said Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations. Read More.
Custom tour operator Avanti Destinations has just launched a new Mobile Documents app that makes all travel documents available on both the advisor's and their clients' phones or tablets, and enables advisors and clients to quickly contact local service suppliers or Avanti while traveling by tapping a hyperlink, rather than having to place an international call.
For travel advisors with a new client who is in a hurry to travel, or a client who has delayed their decision about where to go this summer, Avanti has launched a Last-Minute Booking phone line, 1-888-970-0341, fully dedicated for advisors needing to book a trip seven to 30 days prior to client departure.
In honor of National Travel Advisor Month 2024, independent travel specialist Avanti Destinations is offering a $25 gift card for each FIT* land booking of $5,000 or more made between May 1 and May 31, 2024 for travel any time before December 31, 2024 and paid with at least a deposit on land arrangements by the end of the May.
Custom FIT* tour operator Avanti Destinations announced the appointment of three industry veterans to sales positions: Michel Madjerich, formerly Southeast Regional Sales Director, is now Director of National Accounts; Christina De Falco is Northeast Regional Sales Director; and Paula Ruidiaz is Southeast Regional Sales Director. All three report to Gina Bang, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Avanti.
Wholesale custom tour operator Avanti Destinations expects 30% growth in its custom groups department in 2024, with a high level of repeat bookings.
Wholesale custom tour operator Avanti Destinations has appointed Gina Bang Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, reporting to CEO Paul Barry. Sales previously reported to John Hanratty, who remains Senior VP Industry Relations.
Wholesale FIT* tour operator Avanti Destinations has expanded its offering for advisors' independent travel clients going to Belize with two new customizable vacations, nine new hotels and resorts, and seven new tours and experiences.
Wholesale F.I.T. tour operator Avanti Destinations, based on the West Coast in Portland, Oregon, has opened a sales service center in Manchester (UK) in order to increase the number of hours that the company's trained consultants are available to US travel advisors.
Wholesale custom tour operator Avanti Destinations has just added two regions to their lineup of destinations for independent travel clients heading to Japan: Shizuoka and Tohuku.
Wholesale FIT* tour operator Avanti Destinations has expanded its offering for advisors' independent travel clients going to Panama with two new customizable vacations, 10 new hotels and 19 new tours and experiences, as well as one new destination, the province of Veraguas, home to two national parks.
Wholesale tour operator Avanti Destinations announced that on September 12, 2023 it will be launching its latest region — the South Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, with a total of eight recommended vacations, 280 tours and experiences, and 222 three-, four-, and five-star hotels and resorts in more than 50 locations.
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