Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - (Page 63)

share a meal with them.” The desire for such experiences bodes well for Avanti, which sells customized travel programs that can be further enhanced with interactive add-on components. These may include cooking in a rustic villa in Tuscany or a wine-tasting in the Alsace region. Or, a module could provide a castle stay in France, Ireland or Portugal. In Central and South America, it could include kayaking and rafting in Costa Rica and Belize or a jungle-lodge stay in Brazil, Peru or Ecuador. All the add-on modules are commissionable to travel agents; in fact, everything Avanti sells is commissionable—the air, the car rental, the included meals and the sightseeing. “I cater to people who want it totally their way,” laughs Dalgaard. “We as consumers are used to being able to customize and modify things just the way we want them and on an FIT basis you can do that, you aren’t set on a fixed program. If you want to spend five nights in an area where people usually spend two nights, that is fine. You have control over your environment.” While Dalgaard founded Avanti in 1981, the past two years have been a homecoming of sorts for him. That’s because in 2002, he sold the company to Rail Europe, only to repurchase it in September 2006. “The biggest reward so far has been the positive response we’ve received from the travel agency community on our customer service and the focus we like to put on designing the right trip for their clients,” says Dalgaard of the repurchase. Avanti’s strategy for the hotels it offers through its Europe program is to offer locally owned properties. “The major chains are wonderful, but people are traveling for European ambiance. So we may be offering boutique or design hotels, but really not the known U.S. brands because we want the traveler to experience the European product,” he says, noting that the number of five-star properties Avanti offers is growing. Avanti has also been expanding its reach beyond Italy, the UK, France, Spain and Germany by reaching into Eastern and Central Europe. “We are doing a ton of business in Prague, Vienna and Budapest and in the last three years, we have gotten into Croatia and Slovenia and we’re going to develop more product in that area,” says Dalgaard, noting that he’ll also be adding on Romania. “There is tremendous interest in Central and Eastern Europe because Harry Dalgaard, CEO of Avanti Destinations people have done other things and they are looking for something new.” Greece has also been growing in popularity for the tour operator. “Since the Olympics in 2004, there has been double-digit growth,” he says. “People are doing multiple islands. While Mykonos and Santorini are the ‘big two,’ people are exploring other islands, too, such as Rhodes and Crete.” Harry Dalgaard CEO OF AVANTI DESTINATIONS Website: Role of the Travel Agent Dalgaard says he has been pleased to see how the role of the travel agent has evolved over the years. “The professionals in the business know that they are not just an issuer of tickets and that they have to have knowledge and provide value to the end user,” he says. “To stay in business, they have to appreciate that the customer that is coming to them now is a lot more demanding. The role that the agent plays is about saving time, providing knowledge and securing the right products for them once they are in the destination. “Travel agents need to understand that these people don’t just want a room somewhere,” he adds, “they want the right room. They want to CONTINUED ON PAGE 64 www.avantidestinations.com Avanti was formed in 1981 as an independent tour operator; it is a member of USTOA, ASTA and CLIA. Destinations and services: The company provides FIT programs to Europe, Central America and South America. Its specialty is its commissionable modular packages that provide interactive experiences to its travelers. Travel Agent Liaisons: Europe—Aaron Gregory: agregory@avantidestinations. com or 503-821-9445 Latin America—Leigh Young: lyoung@avantidestinations.com or 503-821-9432 July 21, 2008 TravelAgent | 63 http://www.avantidestinations.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - July 21, 2008

Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe Pacific/Asia Tanzania South Pacific Pacific Northwest Las Vegas Florida Mexico The Caribbean Comes to D.C. Cruises Tours Hotels Agenda Luxury Travel Expo Global Destination Update Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia ASTA is Changing, and Growing Carnival Reduces Direct Business In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - July 21, 2008

Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 8) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 9) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 16) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 17) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 18) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 19) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 20) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 21) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 22) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 23) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 24) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 25) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 26) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 27) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 28) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 29) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 30) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 31) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 32) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 33) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 36) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 37) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 38) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 39) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 40) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 41) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 42) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 43) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 44) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 45) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 46) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 47) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 48) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 49) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 50) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 51) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 52) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 53) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 54) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 55) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 56) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 57) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 58) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 59) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 60) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 61) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 62) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 63) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 64) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 65) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 66) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 67) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 68) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 69) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 70) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 71) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Global Destination Update (Page 72) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia (Page 73) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - ASTA is Changing, and Growing (Page 74) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Carnival Reduces Direct Business (Page 75) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 76) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 77) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 78) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 79) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page 80) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover4) 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