Topdeck, Flight Centre Travel Group’s (FCTG) first touring brand, is set for a major shake-up. Returning to its roots, the brand has announced it will exclusively focus on small group tours tailored to Gen Z travellers from next year.
The announcement comes as the tour operator prepares for a full relaunch in late September, when it will reveal a refreshed brand identity and a new program of intimate tours beginning in April 2026.
Topdeck says the move reflects a generational shift in travel style.
In a Topdeck survey of more than 2,000 young travellers, seven in ten (68 per cent) respondents admitted they preferred groups capped at 20 people, while six in ten (60 per cent) said they were open to group touring, compared to less than half (45 per cent) before the pandemic.
“The move to focus only on small group discovery is a direct response to customer demand within the Gen Z market – our groups will have a maximum 18 travellers,” Topdeck Travel General Manager APAC Anna Fawcett said.
“Large groups are perceived as overwhelming and overbearing when infiltrating a destination as ‘tourists’ – young travellers want to feel like locals when they travel, so our new itineraries have kept this in mind.”
According to the survey, the majority (85 per cent) of those polled said they loved the convenience of touring as organised tours let them spend more time experiencing a destination.
“Smaller groups with Topdeck allow better access to more immersive on-road experiences like cooking classes and adventure activities, which simply aren’t doable in large groups.
“The way we’ve facilitated these groups allows for stronger connections with both fellow travellers and the destinations they’re travelling to, which is key to an authentic travel experience in the eyes of the younger traveller.”
FCTG Global CEO and Topdeck co-founder Graham “Skroo” Turner said the shift “feels right” given the brand’s origin.
“I was 23, living in London when I started Topdeck and just wanted to explore Europe with my mates in a way that was fun, low-fuss and let us experience more in the places we visited,” he stated.
“That first trip had only 14 people on board, so it feels right to return to that smaller group style. It’s also exactly what younger travellers today are telling us they’re looking for.”
For more info, visit www.topdeck.travel.
Earlier this year, Topdeck debuted a first-of-its-kind Inclusivity Policy, doubling down on its commitment to creating safe and welcoming trip experiences for young LGBTQIA+ travellers and helping travel advisors meet the diverse needs of today’s travellers.
