Ep8: Avanti Insider Tours (Special Episode)

Welcome to the eight episode of Avanti's podcast: 'On Air with Avanti Destinations'! This is a special episode that delves into Avanti's Insider Tours.

In episode 8, Gina Bang (Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Katherine Jackson (Director of Product and Yield) to introduce one of the most exciting new additions to the Avanti portfolio — Avanti Insider Tours. Exclusive to Avanti travelers, these expertly guided small-group experiences are capped at just eight participants and guaranteed to depart twice weekly from May through October, regardless if all the eight allocated spots are filled or not. From a thousand years of royal history on the streets of Westminster to a boat ride to Murano to watch master glassmakers at work, each tour is designed to go beyond the landmarks and deliver genuine, lasting understanding of the places clients visit. Currently available across eight iconic cities — London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, Barcelona, Dublin, and Edinburgh — these are the moments clients come home talking about. Travel Advisors are encouraged to book early, as spaces are limited and the season fills quickly.

The whole month of May is National Travel Advisor Month, and to celebrate it... Avanti is offering several incentives for advisors. One of these incentives include the chance to earn complimentary Insider Tour spots. Check out this flyer for more information about the offers.

Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to On Air with Avanti Destinations. If you're a travel advisor who is looking to stay ahead of the game, you've tuned in to the right place. Get ready to have the lowdown on hot destinations, what's booking like crazy, and helpful tips that will turn curiosity into bookings. Ready to dive in? Let's go.

SPEAKER_02 0:25

Hello and welcome to On Air with Avanti Destinations, the podcast bringing the world's most fascinating journeys directly to your ears. I'm your host, Gina Bing, Chief of Sales and Marketing here at Avanti Destinations. Today we're talking about something truly exciting, a brand new offering that's part of our ongoing Avanti Advantage initiative, Avanti Insider Tours. These are exclusive, expertly guided small group experiences designed specifically for Avanti travelers, and they're available right now across some of Europe's most iconic cities. Joining me today is Catherine, Avanti's Director of Product and Yield, to walk us through everything travel advisors need to know. Catherine, welcome back.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Hi Gina. I'm thrilled to be here because honestly, Avanti Insider Tours is one of the most exciting things we've launched in a long time. These tours came directly out of our commitment to giving Avanti travelers and the advisors who serve them something truly distinctive that they simply can't find anywhere else.

SPEAKER_02 1:29

Let's start from the top. What exactly are Avanti Insider Tours? And what makes them different from a typical guided tour experience? Great question.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

At their core, Avanti Insider Tours are small group, expertly guided walking experiences designed to give travelers a genuine, intimate understanding of the places they're visiting. But what really sets them apart is that they're exclusive, available only to Avanti travelers. These aren't generic tours you can book through any aggregator. They've been thoughtfully developed as part of the Avanti Advantage Initiative, specifically to add unmatched value to Avanti itineraries. And the small group element is key. We cap each tour at a maximum of eight participants. So instead of following a guide with an umbrella through a crowd of 40 people, your clients are getting a genuinely personal, intimate experience. There's room for questions, for conversation, for those spontaneous moments that make travel memorable.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

Eight people maximum? That's remarkably intimate. And I know that guaranteed departure piece is something travel advisors really care about. Can you speak to that? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 2:43

And this is something I love about this program. Departures are guaranteed twice a week from May through October. And here's the part that really matters: tours will not be canceled, even if they're not filled. So if a travel advisor books one client, just one, that tour runs. There's no risk of a client arriving in Florence or Edinburgh only to find their tour has been scrapped because of low enrollment. That peace of mind is invaluable, both for the advisor and for the traveler.

SPEAKER_02 3:12

That's a real differentiator. Now, where are these tours available? Walk us through the destinations.

SPEAKER_01 3:18

We're launching in eight incredible cities across six countries: London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, Barcelona, Dublin, and Edinburgh. So England, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, and Scotland. These are the destinations that Avanti clients are already flocking to, and now we're giving them a way to go deeper into each one.

SPEAKER_02 3:42

Let's dig into some of these tours because the experiences themselves sound fascinating. Where should we start?

SPEAKER_01 3:49

Let's start in London because the tour there is genuinely captivating. The Avanti Insider London Royal Walks Tour is a three-hour small group experience through Westminster that explores the British monarchy from William the Conqueror all the way to Charles III. And this isn't just a walk past Buckingham Palace, it's a real narrative journey through a thousand years of scandal, intrigue, and rivalry. The guide brings the monarchy to life in a way that's engaging and deeply personal. For clients who've always been fascinated by royal history, this is extraordinary.

SPEAKER_02 4:25

A millennium of royal drama in three hours? I'd sign up for that. What about Paris?

SPEAKER_01 4:31

Paris is two hours, and it's centered on Notre Dame in the historic heart of the city, and really the birthplace of Paris itself. The guides on this tour are experts and scholars who are genuinely passionate about Notre Dame and its surroundings. So clients aren't just walking through a beautiful neighborhood, they're uncovering the rich layers of history that have shaped Paris across the centuries, led by someone who's dedicated their career to understanding it. It's the kind of depth you simply don't get on a standard city tour.

SPEAKER_02 5:03

And I imagine that's especially resonant given everything Notre Dame has been through in recent years.

SPEAKER_01 5:08

Exactly. There's so much story there, and our guides bring all of it to life. Now in Italy, we have three incredible options: Rome, Florence, and Venice, and they each offer something completely distinct. Rome is a three-hour walk that hits the highlights, but in a way that feels fresh and immersive rather than rushed. Clients start at Piazza Novona, which was actually built on an ancient stadium, then take in the Pantheon's iconic exterior, stroll through the shopping district along Via del Corso, to the Spanish steppes, and conclude at the Trevi Fountain. It's a sweep through the heart of Rome that tells the story of the city through its architecture and public spaces.

SPEAKER_02 5:50

Those are some of Rome's most beloved spots, but I imagine experiencing them with a knowledgeable local guide changes everything.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

It completely does. Context transforms sightseeing into understanding, and Florence takes that even further, because the tour there ends with something really special: a traditional Florentine tasting of cheese, cold cuts, and Chianti. Clients stroll through historic streets past Piazza Signora, Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Giotto's Bell Tower, with a guide sharing stories of the city's artistic and architectural legacy. And then they sit down to taste Florence as well as see it. For food-loving travelers, that's a wonderful touch.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

That combination of culture and cuisine is so quintessentially Italian. And Venice?

SPEAKER_01 6:38

Venice is where we really get creative, because the tour there actually begins on the water. Clients travel by boat from Venice to Murano, the famed island of Venetian glass, where they watch master glassmakers transform molten glass into exquisite creations. It's mesmerizing to witness that kind of centuries old craftsmanship up close. Then there's free time to explore Murano's colorful streets, canals, and a beautiful 12th century church. It's a three-hour experience that feels completely different from anything else in Venice.

SPEAKER_02 7:14

I love that each tour has its own distinct character. What about Barcelona?

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Barcelona is a two-hour walk through the Gothic quarter, those beautiful winding medieval streets with stops at Plaza de Rey, Plaza San Jam, the Cathedral of Barcelona, and a stunning conclusion at Santa Maria del Mar. The guide shares stories of kings, citizens, and cultural change, so it really brings the historical layering of Barcelona to life. The Gothic Quarter has so many hidden corners and tucked away stories, and having an expert guide to surface those details makes all the difference.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

And then we've got Dublin and Edinburgh to round out the eight cities.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Yes, and both of those are particularly close to my heart because they're cities that reward curiosity. Dublin is a three-hour walk through historic streets, bridges, and landmarks, exploring the city's Celtic, Viking, and revolutionary past. There are hidden corners and lesser-known stories woven throughout. It's lively, personal, and gives travelers a genuine glimpse into the character of the Irish capital. Edinburgh is similarly wonderful. The Avanti Insider Edinburgh Mile Walking Tour meanders through the Old Town from Edinburgh Castle along the Royal Mile with a guide sharing stories of royal intrigue, medieval life, and contemporary Scottish culture. Edinburgh's Old Town has this incredible atmospheric quality. The winding streets, the closes, the layers of history stacked on top of each other, and a great guide really unlocks all of that.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

What I'm hearing across all eight cities is that these tours go beyond the surface. They're not just about seeing the landmarks, they're about understanding them.

SPEAKER_01 8:59

That's exactly it. And that's why we call them insider tours. Clients come away feeling like they've been let in on something, like they've seen and understood a place in a way that most visitors simply don't. That's the experience we're designing for.

SPEAKER_02 9:14

For travel advisors listening, how do these tours fit into an Avante itinerary? How easy is it to add them? It's very straightforward.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Travel advisors can call and speak directly with our travel consultants who can walk them through all the details and help match the right tours to their clients' itineraries and interests. Because these tours are guaranteed to run and available twice a week throughout the season, there's real flexibility in how they're incorporated. Whether a client is spending two nights in Paris or five days in Italy, we can find the right fit. And from an itinerary design perspective, these tours are perfect additions to any European program. Whether it's a standalone city stay, a multi-country trip, or, as we discussed in an earlier episode, a pre- or post-cruise enhancement. Imagine pairing the Avanti Insider Barcelona walking tour with a Mediterranean cruise departure, or the Rome walking tour with a post-cruise stay.

SPEAKER_02 10:15

It adds so much depth. That's such a natural pairing. And because availability is limited, you'd encourage advisors to book early.

SPEAKER_01 10:24

Absolutely. Spaces are limited. Maximum eight people per tour, and with guaranteed twice-weekly departures May through October, the calendar does fill up. The earlier advisors secure these spots for their clients, the better. This is one of those offerings where waiting can mean missing out.

SPEAKER_02 10:43

Any final thoughts for travel advisors who want to start incorporating Avanti insider tours into their recommendations?

SPEAKER_01 10:49

I'd say lead with the exclusivity and the intimacy. When you tell a client that this is a small group experience, maximum eight people, available only to Avanti travelers, led by expert local guides with guaranteed departures, that lands differently than a standard tour description. These are experiences designed to make travelers feel special, and that's exactly what great advisors deliver for their clients. These tours aren't just add-ons, they're the kind of moments clients come home talking about. The glass blowing demonstration in Murano, the Royal History Walk through Westminster, the Chianti tasting in Florence, those become the stories they tell. And when clients tell those stories, they mention their travel advisor.

SPEAKER_02 11:36

That's the magic, isn't it? Creating moments that become memories and memories that build loyalty. Catherine, thank you so much for sharing all of this. Avanti Insider Tours sound like a genuinely remarkable addition to the Avanti Portfolio. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

We're really proud of this program, and I can't wait for clients to experience it.

SPEAKER_02 11:57

And thank you to our listeners for tuning in. To learn more about Avanti Insider Tours and start building these exclusive experiences into your clients' itineraries, give us a call and speak with one of our travel consultants. Remember, spaces are limited and the season runs May through October, so don't wait. Until next time, happy traveling.