Escorted tour operator Travelsphere has partnered with the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) to create itineraries that are inspired by the organisation’s archives and scientific work.
The Royal Geographical Society Collection is available to book now, with the first departures in April.
Bruce Poon Tip, owner of G Touring brand Travelsphere, said agents can play an important “story-telling” role in the sale of the new tours, which launched with five introductory itineraries in Italy, Japan, the US, Canada and Latin America.
“The trade is always at the forefront of our planning,” he said, highlighting how the tours give agents opportunities to engage with customers and tell stories around the products.
“They are the face of our brand; they are the ones who meet customers every day and are an important part of the sales process.”
Adam Kemp, managing director at Travelsphere, said there is dedicated training for agents along with marketing materials on the operator’s agent hub.
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Each trip will be led by a Travelsphere holiday director, who will be trained to deliver a deeper level of destination and historical insights from the RGS.
Travellers who book will also receive a new Royal Geographical Society Collection booklet ahead of their departure, offering destination content provided by the RGS.
Travelsphere has hand-picked important elements from the RGS archives of over two million historical items, including the largest private map collection in the world.
Poon Tip added: “The RGS is one of the world’s most respected organisations in its field, having supported geographical research, education, fieldwork and expeditions for nearly 200 years and, combined with Travelphere’s 60 years of escorted touring expertise, we’re bringing an offering to the market that allows travellers to see and learn about the world in a way like never before.
“Both organisations are true pioneers in their own sector, with a shared passion for making the world a better place.”
Jamie Owen, RGS licensing and commercial partnerships manager, added: “A purposeful and responsible approach to travel is a key aim for the society. Through the use of the society’s significant archive materials and accumulated geographical knowledge and Travelsphere’s commitment to making an investment in our world and communities through their work with the Planeterra Foundation, we feel we can achieve this aim.”
Kemp said the new range caters for increased demand for experiences, adding: “The escorted touring sector is booming and, in the last six months alone, we’ve seen sales growth of over 20% compared to the previous year.
“This demand poses a great opportunity for agents to leverage the increasing demand for this style of travel, and we’ve seen a 30% increase in trade sales over the same period.
“The new partnership with the Royal Geographical Society will support this consumer demand with a unique product that isn’t currently being offered anywhere in the market.
“Beyond the work we do in the destination to support local communities through our work with Planeterra, every Royal Geographical Society Collection trip booked will directly support the essential charitable work of the society, so travellers can feel confident that their holiday is helping to support the destination they visit, and the planet as a whole.”
The collection includes a 15-day Grand Tour of Italy, from £3,049 and Epic Wonders of the National Parks, a 17-day tour from £4,449.
The Grand Tour of Canada & the Rocky Mountaineer is from £6,599 for 17 days, while the Latin Wonders of the World costs from £5,199 for 18 days. The Japan – Land of the Rising Sun tour is 13 days from £5,299.