The More, the Merrier: Why Group Travel Is Our Best-Kept Growth Secret

One group booking. 10+ travelers. Multiple rooms, multiple tickets, multiple upsells,
and 10+ potential lifelong clients who'll book their personal trips with you next.
That's the math behind group travel, and it's why families, wine clubs, faith communities, and corporate teams are quietly becoming the most profitable niche in the travel advisory business. Avanti has spent four decades helping advisors turn "we should all go somewhere together" into a thriving business line.



Why Group Travel Deserves a Place in Every Advisor's Business

Group travel isn't just a trend, it's a growing share of the market. Families, corporations, and communities of every kind are seeking shared travel experiences, and the appeal shows no signs of slowing down.

Four reasons advisors who sell groups rarely go back:

Bigger bookings.
One sale, many travelers, and more chances to upsell.

Deeper loyalty
Deliver a great group trip and you've earned a referral engine, not just a client.

Creative freedom
Wine tours, pilgrimages, school trips. Build a brand around what you love.

A growing database
Happy group travelers come back to you for their personal trips, too.



Understanding the Groups You're Working With

Not all groups are alike, and Avanti draws a clear distinction between two types.

Preformed groups arrive ready to book with a leader, a headcount, and a vision. Great when they land in your inbox, but rare.

Affinity groups are where the real growth is. Built around shared passions like food and wine, faith, education, sports, hobbies, they're communities you can proactively turn into travelers. At Avanti, 10+ people traveling together counts as a group.

Within affinity travel, Avanti defines a group as 10 or more people traveling together, and each type of traveler brings its own dynamics:

◆ Families need itineraries that work across generations, prioritizing safety, comfort, and inclusivity.

◆ Corporate groups look for team-building, relaxation, and polished conference facilities.

◆ Special interest groups (think photography enthusiasts or culinary explorers) want niche experiences and exclusive access.

◆ Spiritual and religious groups require respectful planning and knowledgeable guides.

◆ Educational groups gravitate toward museums, historic sites, and interactive learning.

◆ Sports fans travel to experience new cultures and cuisines alongside the games they love.

Curious what a group booking could look like for you? Call our Groups team at 888-606-7260 or email groups@avantidestinations.com

Your Niche Is Already in Your Community
The best group opportunities are hiding in plain sight:

A wine club ready for Bologna.

A church community dreaming of a pilgrimage.

A school or university planning an academic expedition.

A local brewery that would love a real Oktoberfest.

A company rewarding its top performers with travel.

A soccer or golf club chasing a bucket-list trip abroad.

Turning Prospects Into Lifelong Clients

Avanti outlines a clear path for advisors to move a group from first contact to loyal, repeat travelers:

1. Discover opportunities by identifying potential collaborators, from local clubs to niche communities.

2. Illustrate the dream with presentations that go beyond logistics and spark real excitement.

3. Forge strong alliances by building trust with partners and creating pre-trip anticipation.

4. Prompt decisive action with early-bird incentives that reward commitment.

5. Revel in the adventure through pre-departure gatherings and post-trip reflections that strengthen group bonds.

6. Fuel the excitement with ongoing insights and destination content that keeps the travel itch alive.

7. Stay a step ahead by having the next trip ready to go while momentum is still high.


Scaling a Group Travel Business

For advisors ready to grow, Avanti recommends a few concrete strategies:

◆ Plan 8 to 12 months ahead to allow time to curate, promote, and refine each trip.

◆ Network strategically, aligning outreach with communities that match the trip's theme.

◆ Follow the 10:1 outreach ratio. Reaching roughly 150 potential travelers helps ensure a group of 10, with room to grow larger and earn more commission.

◆ Promote across multiple channels, from social media and newsletters to webinars and travel fairs.

◆ Collaborate with local partners like restaurants, wine clubs, and churches to expand reach.

◆ Reward early sign-ups with discounts or added perks.



Avanti's 7 Steps to Group Success

Once a group is ready to book, Avanti streamlines the entire process:

◆ Understand and prepare by learning the group's unique personality and preferences

◆ Quote creation that transforms an advisor's vision into a tailored, competitively priced itinerary

◆ Accommodations, simplified through a nominal deposit system

◆ Straightforward sign-up with clear, uncomplicated deposit structures

◆ Detail-oriented luxury, with every element from lodging to activities matched to the group's aspirations

◆ Ready-set-go organization, covering timelines for name listings, payments, and travel documents

◆ Unwavering support, including round-the-clock in-destination assistance



What Partnering With Avanti Looks Like

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Avanti Destinations operates with a dedicated groups team, an operations team in Barcelona, and call centers in both Portland and Manchester, England. As a USTOA member, Avanti brings:

◆ A comprehensive travel palette, drawing on a global network to source flights and unique experiences

◆ Tailored travel experiences, crafted by a knowledgeable groups team for cities and quiet towns alike

◆ Dedicated support, backed by specialized teams, webinars, and newsletters

◆ Strategic growth resources, refined continually to serve larger groups and new destinations

Advisors who partner with Avanti also gain access to an exclusive network of destination partners, private tours, simplified booking and modifications, guaranteed reservations, and round-the-clock support.

Need Inspiration? Steal One of Our Sample Itineraries

Fully mapped itineraries, ready to customize: a Wine & Dine tour through Bologna and Milan, a Chilean wine journey, an Ireland cider tour, a Japan family adventure from Tokyo to Osaka, an active Guatemala adventure, a Mennonite heritage tour across four countries, a Scotland quilt-club trip through the Highlands, a Spain golf tour, and a London woodcarvers trip tracing Grinling Gibbons.

Each itinerary comes fully mapped out, from accommodations and meals to standout excursions, giving advisors a ready-made foundation to customize for their own groups.

Ready to Grow With Group Travel?

Group travel offers advisors a rare combination: higher revenue, deeper client relationships, and the creative freedom to build something truly memorable. With Avanti Destinations as a partner, that opportunity comes with a proven process, a global support network, and inspiration to spare.

Get in touch:
Groups: 888-606-7260
Avanti: 800-422-5053
Email: groups@avantidestinations.com
Website: www.avantidestinations.com/groups