Audley Travel joins ATAS to strengthen its impact in the luxury travel sector, focusing on private touring options.
- Audley Travel’s membership in the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers marks a strategic expansion in its operations.
- The luxury operator aims to enhance collaboration with travel agents, leveraging their expertise to boost tailored travel experiences.
- Plans include increasing agent engagement through events and training, with a focus on sustainable and responsible travel.
- Audley Travel continues to experience growth, showing promising sales trajectories and popular destination choices.
Audley Travel has strategically joined the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (ATAS), marking a significant expansion in its efforts to showcase its private touring options across an impressive 75 countries. Greg Thurston, trade sales manager at Audley Travel, highlighted the excitement in meeting passionate ATAS agent members dedicated to touring and adventure, underscoring the operator’s unique approach to customised tours.
The company aims to strengthen collaboration with travel agents, who remain pivotal due to their trusted relationships with clients. Audley Travel’s partnership with ATAS is expected to be mutually beneficial, driving increased high-value bookings and offering clients curated itineraries formed by expert knowledge from both the travel agents and Audley’s specialists.
In a bid to foster closer relationships and facilitate better training, Audley is set to augment its face-to-face interactions with agents. This involves recruiting a business development manager based in the south of the UK, along with organising in-person training sessions, client events, and networking opportunities. This move coincides with the company’s optimism for continued record-breaking trade sales following a successful 2023.
Moreover, a series of fam trips and exclusive VIP events are on the agenda, with initiatives like the A-List loyalty scheme poised to enhance agent engagement further. This is mirrored by the overwhelmingly positive response from agents to previous events, such as the successful Canada trip in 2023. Popular destinations among Audley clients are seeing growth, with India, Canada, Japan, the US, and Costa Rica leading the list.
The company is firmly committed to sustainability, identifying responsible travel practices as a core pillar. Their B Corp certification exemplifies this commitment, with initiatives like the Responsible Choice classification being launched to spotlight sustainable accommodations and experiences in their travel offers. This aligns with the ATAS ethos of promoting responsible travel.
The expansion includes innovative offerings for 2024, such as the Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka, Travesía journey from Chile to Bolivia, Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii, and new accommodations in Botswana. Claire Brighton, ATAS director, welcomed Audley Travel’s membership as a pivotal development for advancing the touring and adventure sector, noting their comprehensive, tailor-made tours and steadfast commitment to sustainability as key benefits for travel agents.
Audley Travel’s integration into ATAS heralds a promising advance for the luxury travel sector, prioritising customised experiences and sustainable practices.
