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TOURING UPDATES: What Does Touring Look Like Post COVID-19?

Three coffees down and still have no idea what's going on in the world of touring? You are not alone... which is why we're bringing you, 'On The Road'. Say hello to one article with all the need-to-know information, right now.

Three coffees down and still have no idea what’s going on in the world of touring? You are not alone… which is why we’re bringing you, ‘On The Road’. Say hello to one article with all the need-to-know information, right now.

Feeling a little overwhelmed with all the COVID-19 touring related news at the moment? No worries!

We’ll be updating this feed with the important updates you need to know, as the touring news comes in, so please keep checking back for regular updates.

Do you have any touring info or news to add? Please email us at editor@karryon.com.au

READ: Post-Pandemic Planning: 7 Reasons Why Using An Agent Should Be The ‘New Normal’

Want to join our #togetherintravel initiative? Click here for more.

G Adventures further suspends tours to include September departures

Karry On - G Adventures

G Adventures has taken the unfortunate but necessary decision to further suspend tours departing up to and including September 30, 2020, as well as the October 21, 2020 departure of its G Expedition ship.

This comes with the exception of 21 departures which are operating in Europe for travel that is possible between certain countries.

Travellers can rebook their tour for a future date or book a different tour instead. All travellers booked and fully paid on a tour departing up to September 30, 2020, will receive a 110% travel credit on all booked tour services, including pre- and post-night accommodation and transfers, to be used on any tour departing up to two years from the end of the month of their tour’s suspension. Travellers who haven’t yet made their final payment will have their Lifetime Deposit kept on file to put towards a future tour.  

G Adventures is not suspending tours beyond September 30 so as to keep the door open in the event the current situation evolves in a way that enables us to travel again.

The company understands people may feel uncertain about travelling in the upcoming months, so are offering travellers booked on tours departing up to December 31, 2020, the option to transfer their booking to a future departure date for the same price. Alternatively, they can pay in full and receive a 110% travel credit for a future tour. 

To help travellers feel confident to rebook using their travel credit, Lifetime Deposit or to make a new booking, G Adventures is offering a Book with Confidence* policy, which lets them cancel and rebook their tour closer to the time of departure, giving them flexibility and peace of mind.

* Excludes some tours.

READ: Travel With Confidence+: G Adventures’ New Tour Collection

G Adventures is notifying all travellers regarding tour suspensions and advising travellers with flight bookings to contact their insurance / air providers for details on compensation. 

Click here or email experience@gadventures.com for more information.

Global Touring announces new measures for travel post-Covid-19 for Topdeck and Back-Roads brands

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Global Touring, the umbrella group of travel brands that includes Topdeck Travel and Back-Roads Touring, has announced new measures being introduced for its trips once international and domestic travel resumes post Covid-19. 

Topdeck, the provider of group travel for 18-30 somethings, and Back-Roads, the provider of small group tours along the road less travelled, have been reviewing their operations and working to define new protocols and safety measures for travel. With customer wellbeing the prime concern, the new measures being put in place will help ensure customers can still have the best travel experience once it’s safe to do so again.

The new measures being implemented by Topdeck and Back-Roads include:

  • Increased hygiene standards
  • Enhanced crew training 
  • Working with trusted partners and suppliers
  • Booking flexibility 

“These have been difficult times for everyone and as a company we have a duty of care to our customers. We want to reassure them that with these extra measures we’ll be ready to help them get back out there and see the world, whilst helping to keep them safe.”

David Gendle, General Manager Sales at Global Touring

Global Touring brands will be continually reviewing the measures and protocols being put in place to ensure trip operations are in line with government regulations, World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and industry best practices.

Click for more information on Topdeck and Backroads.

ATG extends international tours & cruises until 1 October 2020.

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As the ongoing situation continues and travel to all countries continues to be impacted, ATG wishes to advise you that they will be suspending all our international tours and cruises up until and including 30 September 2020.

This is an unprecedented time and as such, the company is offering the following flexibility for your clients.

ATG Future Holiday Credit:

  • ATG’s Future Holiday Credit – equal to the full amount paid for the booking.
  • Credit is valid for travel on any tour or cruise with APT, Travelmarvel, TravelGlo or Botanica up until the end of 2022.
  • Credit will be applicable for multiple bookings for the same client if desired.
  • Credit can be transferred to another person, however it is not redeemable for cash.
  • To keep updated on all current policies and terms and conditions visit www.aptouring.com.au/about-us/travel-updates

Helping Valued Partners:

  • ATG will be contacting all guests, on your behalf, who are due to depart up to and including 30 September 2020.
  • Contact will be made via email to advise of our suspension, with you, their agent, cc’d in.
  • ATG will also be contacting guests on your behalf by phone from Tuesday and in the subsequent days in departure date order.
  • In this call, guests will be advised to contact you, their trusted travel advisor, to redeem their Future Holiday Credit when they are ready to do so.
  • If your clients are wanting to rebook immediately, ATG will rebook them in your name and contact you directly after the call with full details.
  • The company is also offering a COVID Flexible Booking Cover to provide additional assurance and flexibility for when your clients rebook their holiday on all International Tours and Cruises made by 30 September 2020. This is also available for your clients wishing to defer any 01 October – 31 December 2020 international holiday. Full details of the cover can be found here.
  • Please note ATG’s updated Customer Service Centre hours are between 8am-6pm AEST Monday to Friday.

Click here for more information.

Wendy Wu celebrates first 2021 campaign booking

Touring

Wendy Wu Tours recenty surprised Cathy from Helloworld Strathpine with a bottle of champagne – to celebrate its first 2021 campaign booking (28-day Journey Through Central Asia tour) and thank Cathy for her support.

“‘We’re delighted by the support of our trade partners promoting our special via social platforms and to their databases. During these uncertain times, we are very encouraged at the response and level of enquiry.”

Tamba Lebbie, Wendy Wu Tours, Head of Sales.

Wendy Wu Tours Can’t Wait To Go special offers $300pp saving on more than 600 departures to Japan, Latin America, Vietnam, Central Asia and more with a deposit of only $99pp required to secure a place. The promotion is in market to 30 June. 

Click here for more information.

G Adventures unveils new ‘Travel with Confidence’ policy

Touring

G Adventures has unveiled a new ‘Travel with Confidence’ policy which introduces new safety procedures across all future G Adventures trips.

Designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both travellers and employees, while continuing to deliver the adventure of a lifetime, the policy includes new social distancing and hygiene measures that will be in place from the moment travellers join a trip until they depart.

Working with G Adventures’ global supplier network, the new policy encompasses transportation, where travellers eat, accommodation and activities on the ground.

It also highlights the importance of G Adventures’ small group offering, which helps facilitate many of the new safety measures, as well as the key role played by the dedicated CEOs (chief experience officers) to provide increased reassurance, local knowledge, and support to travellers whilst on a trip. 

“Our new Travel with Confidence policy allows us to reassure our travellers that when they are ready to travel again all the necessary procedures are in place to keep them safe on their adventure,”

Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures’ founder.

Click here for more information.

Health & safety on ATG tours

Touring

APT Travel Group (ATG) always has the safety and wellbeing of guests’ front of mind, and now even more so with the approaching return to travel.

The company has responded to the ever-changing Covid-19 situation by implementing a number of new measures to elevate its health and hygiene protocols giving travel agents assurance that they can recommend ATG products with confidence.

Some key areas of attention for their extensive Australian programmes include:

  • All classic coach touring will adhere to social distancing requirements where applicable and have a maximum of 24 guests* on their large capacity coaches (48 guests).
  • Pre-travel health screenings with specific COVID-19 health assessment forms and reporting for all guests and crew. Any guest who doesn’t meet the criteria will not be allowed to begin the tour or cruise.
  • Hand sanitiser will be available on all our tours and cruises at all times.
  • No self-serve buffets will be offered on any tours and cruises.
  • Face masks will be available for all guests on request.
  • All staff and crew will undertake industry recognised Covid-19 training in areas of health and hygiene, and an in-house training program is under development for ATG’s international crew
    members, drawing on best-practice initiatives from around the world.
  • Small ship cruising limited to 114 guests with specific enhanced health and hygiene protocols.
  • Increased cleaning of frequently touched surfaces with hospital grade cleaning products used.
  • Small group offerings align themselves with social distancing with fewer guests in communal areas at one time, such as small groups in the exclusive ATG owned Kimberley Lodges.
  • Working with supplier partners to ensure all health and safety protocols are of the highest standard and suppliers used across all products will meet COVID regulations.

Click here for more information.

World Expeditions Introduces Covid19 Prevention Policies in Preparation for a Return to Travel

Touring

World Expeditions, has announced further enhancements to its robust operating procedures and practices, designed to ensure travellers’ safety and minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19.

The new Covid-19 specific measures include new screening procedures for clients pre-departure as well as new operational procedures, such as having all passengers equipped with a mask when travelling on short-distance transfers to trailheads or camps in World Expeditions vehicles. 

The new protocols have been developed in consultation with World Expeditions Travel Group’s medical advisor, Dr Ross Anderson, and include new practices around deep cleaning of vehicles, along with heightened food preparation and serving protocols. 

Stringent hand washing and sanitisation and regular disinfecting of all camp surfaces are long established practices on group trips and will be complemented with participants being issued with their own utensils for their personal use throughout the entire trip.

World Expeditions CEO, Sue Badyari, says the company is following guidelines from its medical advisor as well as government advice to ensure the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness across all operations.

“Walking holidays are intrinsically safer because they are outdoor adventures, during which walkers spend almost every waking moment outside,”

World Expeditions CEO, Sue Badyari,

“Physical distancing in the outdoor landscapes is natural.” she said. 

Click here for more information.

G Adventures suspends tours until August 2020

G Adventures Virtual

G Adventures has taken the necessary decision to further suspend all tours departing up to and including July 31, 2020.

In addition, G Adventures will also be suspending all G Expedition departures up to and including 31 August 2020.

All travellers booked and fully paid on a tour departing up to July 31, 2020, will receive a 110% travel credit on all booked tour services, including pre- and post-night accommodation and transfers, to be used on any tour departing up to two years from the end of the month of their tour’s suspension.

Travellers who haven’t yet made their final payment will have their Lifetime Deposit kept on file to put towards a future tour. 

G Adventures is also offering travellers booked on tours departing up to September 30, 2020, the option to transfer their booking to a future departure date for the same price. Alternatively, travellers can pay in full and receive a 110% travel credit for a future tour. 

Click here for more information.

Collette’s Travelling Well Initiative

Collette

Collette has committed to an expanded health and wellness initiative through its branded Travelling Well Experience. 

The tour operator is also offering a cancel for any reason protection policy for customers, which enables them to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours prior to departure and receive a full cash-back refund.

Read the full story here: Collette Cares: Travelling Well & Cancel For Any Reason

APT’s COVID-19 Update

APT

APT has announced the suspension of all domestic and international touring and cruising up to and including 31 July 2020.

In addition, Canada & Alaska Touring and Cruising will be suspended up to and including 30 September 2020.

A future holiday credit equal to 100% of the amount paid on the booking, is being offered to all APT suspended tours. This is valid for travel with APT up to the end of 2022. The credit can be used for multiple bookings and can be transferred to another person, however, it is not redeemable for cash.

Click here for more information.  

Globus suspends tours and cruises through August

Touring

Globus family of brands has announced that it is suspending travel worldwide until 31 August 2020. For travellers affected by the suspension, the Globus family is extending its Peace of Mind Travel Plan.

“To add some certainty to this situation, we are giving control back to our travellers – and their travel agents – by being proactive and looking ahead through August. And, in doing that, we are giving them the right options, adequate time and high levels of attention and consideration to help them to reset and adjust their international holiday plans for a time when the world is ready for them.”

Gai Tyrrell, managing director Australasia of Globus family of brands.

The Peace of Mind Travel Plan provides Globus family of brands’ travellers booked on affected holidays the freedom to reschedule their trip in 2020, 2021 or 2022, to any destination, on any brand, without incurring cancellation fees. But that’s not all. The Plan also offers travellers a bonus credit of up to $300 per person when they make their new plans.

Click here for more information on Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways.