Learn How to Increase your Sales with Exodus Travels
Interview By: Andy Ogg, CTIE, Senior Editor – Travel Professional NEWS®
Interviewing: Sasha Andrews, Industry Sales Director – North America Exodus Travels
First off, thank you very much for the time today and joining our fantastic Travel Professional NEWS readers!
For those of our readers that aren’t aware of Exodus Travels, can you share a bit about your business and history in this amazing industry?
Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. We’ve been in business ever since, now offer over 600+ tours to 100+ countries and that adventurous spirit from 45+ years ago lives on today.
Exodus has been headquartered in the UK for over 45 years however our North American office only opened recently in 2014 as so many Americans and Canadians were calling into London. Opening in North America was a no brainer. However very few agents knew about Exodus at the time so we are still very much the new kids on the block in the North American market.
Exodus’ philosophy is to travel courteously and respectfully, and in small groups to minimize our impact on the environment and to ensure that every Exodus adventure is a beneficial experience for everyone involved.
That’s amazing! I know that Exodus Travels really focuses on the Active Traveler, can you provide some more insight into how those offerings have been doing with your Travel Professional partners?
The active sector is one of the fastest growing markets in travel today. Clients (especially the 45+ set) are increasingly looking to experience both popular destinations, like France, and exotic locales, like Morocco, in a more intimate way. Demand for Exodus’ walking and cycling trips have soared because they perfectly combine active and experiential travel experiences. We’re committed to making adventure accessible to all travelers, so we’ve created over 600 itineraries with a range of activity levels for your clients to choose from, like a guided walk along the Amalfi Coast to self-guided cycling through Spanish villages. Adventure is for everyone and we’re here to help you find the ideal trip for your clients.
Can you share what your top destinations have been so far in 2019?
Italy remains our top destination. Our Italy tours take in Roman history, Renaissance art, romantic landscapes and delicious cuisine, however they are not your cookie-cutter Italy tours. We take you under the skin of the ghostly ruins of Pompeii and the Renaissance city of Florence; explore the iconic Tower of Pisa but at the end of the day where Exodus excels is heading off the beaten path to meet with the true people and life taking place amongst ruins of old Italy. Move away from the cities and you’ll find another side to the land of La Dolce Vita and a far more authentic one. From walking the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to exploring the Apuane Alps in Tuscany, cross-country skiing in Dobbiaco or a foodie cycling tour through Barolo.
Have you seen any surprising shifts in the marketplace that have proven to be beneficial this year?
One of the biggest comebacks for us this year has been Egypt. And seeing tourism head back to this remarkable country and its incredibly welcoming people warms my heart.
My favorite Egypt itinerary is our Nile Cruise which is a premium 9 day cruise starting at $1349 USD.
What kind of commissions can Travel Agents expect to make when booking their clients with Exodus Travels?
At Exodus, we place high emphasis on the value of our agent partners and are happy to reward their hard work with a base commission of 15%.
If an Agent is looking to get started with Exodus Travels, can you provide what would be required from them and where they could go to get started?
We’re always thrilled to welcome new booking agents into the world of Exodus. To get started, we require agency details (address, phone etc.) to set up a new agent. New inquiries are welcome to be sent to agents@exodustravels.com
Before we conclude, I personally want to thank you for your time and information shared today. We appreciate your involvement in our publication and look forward to speaking with you again soon!