Independent travel specialist Avanti Destinations has launched a custom groups department that can do trips for
groups of up to 100.
Avanti, which sells exclusively through travel
agents, previously did custom tours only for groups under 16 -- primarily family and
friends.
The new department
will create custom itineraries for almost any type of group that travel agents
book: sports teams, school and alumni groups, volunteers, and groups wanting to see special events, performances or
specific sights based on specialized
interests.
"Because every group has their own idea of what they
want to do and where they want to go, I see our custom groups department as an
extension of our brand of independent travel, where no two Avanti vacations are
the same", said Paul Barry, Avanti's executive chairman. "Avanti's
staff has tremendous in-depth destination knowledge and has handled hundreds of
small, 10-16 passenger groups over the years. With our ability to seamlessly
connect multiple destinations, we've simply extended the scope of our services."
Customized,
multi-destination vacations for independent travelers have been the Portland, Ore.-based tour operator's specialty since its founding in 1981.
"The new department is staffed by a team I've
personally assembled with many years' experience handling custom group
bookings," Barry said. "I expect the department will grow
significantly in the next year."