Who says a group tour has to be on a 48-passenger motorcoach? Collette Vacations, in a bold move, is challenging that notion with the formation of a new division that offers more personalized experiences. Read about the brand new Explorations by Collette in this issue of the E-Zine and ponder what it means for our industry.

Collette's innovative itineraries for groups of 16 to 24 signal a major shift for a highly regarded company whose bread and butter for decades has been filling large buses. Enjoying a special camaraderie, Explorations passengers can take advantage of experiences and accommodations not suitable for larger groups.

This sharp departure from the norm reminds us that times change, and travelers' preferences need to be constantly examined. We can tweak little things in the itinerary, but sometimes we have to look at the bigger picture and create a whole new product. It might take some soul searching, but maybe there's something you can do to light the fires of change in your operations.

Speaking of inspiration, packaging tours for religious groups is getting to be big business. Just look at the "Religious Travel Symposium" story below. Equally as eye-opening is the Illinois report, a gold mine of fresh itinerary-building ideas. It talks about many places I've never seen, even though I've lived in the Prairie State all my life. Our story on Southwestern dining tempts me to pick up the phone and make reservations.

We've enjoyed putting together this e-magazine and hope you find it enabling, enriching and ennobling. Thanks always for your comments and suggestions.

Collette Vacations Launches 'Explorations' Tour Division

Bellaire: A Culinary Jewel in Michigan's Chain-of-Lakes Country

Jamaica Tourist Board Stages First Annual Tourism Outlook Seminar

Travel Gulmarg-The Legendary Beauty

The religious travel market is growing at an unprecedented rate - more than 70 percent in each of the past two years. Not only are more people going on faith-based vacations, but there is also a huge demand for these vacations to become a group travel experience.

However, this market remains largely untapped, according to speakers at the Third Annual Globus World Religious Travel Symposium in Denver this past November. While many participate in religious travel to explore the religious shrines and monuments that draw millions of visitors each year, there is also a desire to balance the trip with more traditional destination tours.

With their tour-customizing experience, Globus has naturally entered into the religious travel forum to serve this growing market with its diverse needs.

There has always been much to see and do in Illinois, but traveling to the Land of Lincoln just got a little easier with Tour Illinois. This statewide destination marketing organization promotes specifically to the group travel industry and has recently unveiled four new itineraries around the state. Explore the small towns and quirky attractions along Route 66 or take a more leisurely tour, strolling through the gardens and plant collections that beautify Illinois.

Rediscover the many historic sites along the Mississippi River or find the perfect vintage wines and antique treasures that Illinois has to offer. Visiting the Land of Lincoln can be simple and stress-free for anyone with the new selection of group tour itineraries.

The distinctive flair of America's Southwest has been attracting visitors for decades, in part because of the unique dining opportunities available. With inspiration from Native American, Spanish and Anglo cuisine, the cultural influences make dining in the Southwestern states a fine way to enhance a visit there.

The Southwest has also become home to a number of celebrity chefs, making a visit even more intriguing. In addition to the delicious food that the Southwest is known for, the region boasts a number of important Spanish and Mexican historic sites alongside the large variety of stylish shops, galleries, theaters, and luxurious resorts and casinos. See for yourself why the fascinating and flavorful world of the Southwest is a popular vacation destination for many Americans.

In our last issue we discussed what trip planners can do to help travelers remain healthy en route, particularly by making itineraries that allow sufficient time for tour members to pace themselves, get enough rest and take their medications as they go along. We also mentioned the importance of getting pre-trip information from each traveler regarding insurance policy, physician's name and emergency contact.

It's 11:35 a.m. on Monday and Chris Wilkerson is smiling. Having completed his second sales call of the day, he finds himself two-for-two; two appointments, two sales! As he strides toward his car, having hit his goal for the week, he dials his cell phone to reserve a 1:00 p.m. tee time for an unexpected but well-deserved round of golf.

And in the blink of an eye, a great day begins to take a quick slide toward an average week, all because Chris started his process by setting the wrong goals.

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