CHICAGO — Abercrombie & Kent said at its top-selling A&K 100 Club event that it is investing heavily in not only technology enhancements for travel advisors, but also expanding its wildlife experiences.
The luxury travel group announced $2.5 billion in investments over the next five years and plans to introduce a number of new destinations and products, including camps, lodges, ocean cruises, expedition cruises and river cruise ships. Announced.
The investment plan comes after A&K Travel Group CEO Christina Levis said the company had a year of record growth, allowing it to expand its business and product lines. It was announced after receiving the
This year, A&K will open a new destination management office in Mexico and further strengthen its continued investment in Latin America, including expanding its sales team. Last year, the company opened a destination management office in Costa Rica.
“We are expanding our sales teams in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, to support local international travel agents,” said Maret Taylor, chief sales officer of A&K Travel Group.
The company is also increasing its investment in technology. A&K says the A&K Global Travel Advisor Portal, scheduled to launch in May, will streamline how advisors manage reservations and fees. Advisors can specify their home base in the portal, allowing them to opt-in to invitations to local girlfriend A&K events.
A new destination for wildlife
Madagascar and Borneo will be added to A&K’s small group travel portfolio in 2025. Stephanie Schmudde, A&K’s senior vice president of global product strategy, said these destinations offer the secluded experiences guests are looking for.
“We’re trying to include more bold destinations,” Schmudde said.
In Borneo, guests explore rivers and terrestrial rainforests. You’ll also learn about the island’s orangutans, including orphaned orangutans who are being cared for and rehabilitated to be released back into the wild.
A&K’s small group travel to India will expand to the south of the country with new itineraries focused on the region’s history, landscape and cuisine. And Sri Lanka will have a new small group itinerary.
“Sri Lanka is a great destination, but it hasn’t received a lot of interest from the US market, but we’re trying to change that because we want to explore more off-the-beaten-path types of travel. , Sri Lanka is the perfect next destination,” said Schmudde.
Anne Epting, A&K’s senior vice president of private jet and special interest travel, said wildlife experiences have been in high demand since they were introduced to the private jet program in February 2020, with repeat customers ever since. He said he has earned it.
“We are developing a new wildlife and nature itinerary for September 2024,” Epting said. “This is a combination of several destinations that feature natural wonders as well as some wonderful and surprising wildlife experiences.”
A thorough gourmet tour
While A&K will focus on culinary offerings as it plans to expand its offerings in Southeast Asia and Europe, Schmudde said guests can expect a deeper, more hands-on culinary experience.
Vietnam will be the first destination to host the brand’s new wine and food journey, starting in 2025, followed by Italy, France, Japan and China. These tours explore the use of local ingredients and the role food plays in culture, and offer opportunities to meet and eat with locals in the communities they visit.
