Customised itineraries in 11 destinations are available from today.
Increased demand for personalised travel has led G Adventures to launch a new range of tailor-made travel solutions, called TailorMade. 11 destinations are available to book immediately.
In December 2018, G Adventures surveyed more than 450 travel agents globally* and 84% reported an increase in requests for tailor-made travel and private tours. 44% stated it as being ‘in high demand’ and 40% said demand had increased in the past year.
Bruce Poon Tip, founder, G Adventures, says there has been a distinct gap in the market for tailor-made travel solutions in adventure travel, specifically in the affordable and mid-market price ranges.
“The flexibility of TailorMade means travellers can combine experiential travel with customisation. While we’ve recognised an opportunity in the mid-range travel market, we’ll also be able to cater to higher-end tastes in transport, meals and accommodation.
“Most importantly, when booking a TailorMade trip all travellers are still booking what G Adventures is best known for, which is socially responsible travel. Our ‘G for Good’ social enterprise projects are available as an option to visit in all 11 launch destinations, and when travellers use our recommended suppliers their money stays in the local economy,” says Poon Tip.
The 11 launch destinations for TailorMade travel in 2019 are Botswana, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador (including Galapagos), India, Laos, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, with two or three sample itineraries available for each as inspiration for travellers making a TailorMade request.
Jeff Russill, senior vice president, marketing and product, G Adventures, says demand for customisation is being seen across many industries as consumers look to indulge in more one-of-a-kind experiences.
“G Adventures’ new TailorMade trips tap into the current zeitgeist and the public’s growing interest in being able to ‘choose your own adventure’, such as we’ve seen recently on the popular Netflix show, Black Mirror. Up until now, we have only been able to provide our private group adventure travellers with a duplicate of an existing G Adventures itinerary, departing on their chosen date. We’re excited to innovate in this space to bring customised adventure and experiential travel to more people,” says Russill.
G Adventures is in the process of expanding its sales team and assigning dedicated specialists who will work with travel agents and customers to design the ideal itinerary. Options will include bespoke transportation, accommodation, meals, activities, pace of travel and budget. Travellers can opt to select a sample itinerary and depart on their own date, amend a sample itinerary, or create a whole new itinerary with the help of their private travel consultant.
TailorMade tours are available for solo travellers or groups of nearly any size, and perfect for couples, families, friends, honeymooners, teams and affinity groups who enjoy G Adventures’ style of travel, but want to create an itinerary that caters to their unique needs.
Adventures celebrates International Women’s Day and welcomes four new ‘G For Good’ projects
This International Women’s Day, Friday 8th March 2019, purpose-led adventure travel company and social enterprise, G Adventures, welcomes four new ‘G For Good’ projects, dedicated to supporting women and youth across Africa.
Joining the existing 70 G For Good projects supported by G Adventures and their non-profit partner, Planeterra, the new projects were selected based on the impact potential of G Adventures’ traveller market on communities in each of the destinations involved, and are a reflection of the increase in travellers seen by G Adventures across Africa over the past 12 months.
With 20 G For Good projects solely committed to empowering women, and 2,043 women having been employed or trained through G For Good projects around the world, Kelly Galaski, Director of Global Programmes for Planeterra, says the new projects will continue G Adventures’ mission to empower and support women and youth in the communities travellers visit.
“The tourism industry continues to be one of the largest job creators in the world, with the ability to reach some of the most rural and underserved people across the globe. But, despite 55% of the tourism workforce being made up of women, there is often a lack of women in leadership roles. And, in many countries, women are completely excluded from education and the formal economy because of their gender,” comments Galaski. “International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the work still to be done. We are committed to supporting projects, like these new initiatives in Africa, that empower and offer fair employment to women, because when women succeed, we all succeed.”
Amongst the 20 female-focused projects, G Adventures sees many women successfully overcoming social and gender inequality each year. In India, Women on Wheels, the country’s first fleet of female-only chauffeurs has trained and secured employment for over 650 women from resource-poor areas of urban India. In Monduli, Tanzania, a team of all-women engineers from the Maasai community have installed over 500 clean cookstoves and solar systems, offering safe cooking options to the Maasai areas across the Serengeti. Having opened in 2018, the Sthree Craft Shop and Cafe in Sri Lanka has served 2,400 meals to travellers in their first year, offering sustainable employment to women and youth with disabilities.
Tribal Textiles – Mfuwe, Zambia
Despite recent economic growth, which has generated employment in Zambia’s urban regions, opportunities for the country’s rural communities remain scarce. This new G For Good project works with Tribal Textiles, a community-run fabric workshop, café and hand-painted textiles shop located just outside of South Luangwa National Park, benefiting 1,500 community members, and deterring locals from turning to wildlife poaching in the nearby park as a source of income. With the shop staff made up solely of women and many of the Tribal Textiles management also female, the project is also one of the largest employers in the village of Mfuwe, employing more than 100 local people. Now, all G Adventures 18-to-Thirtysomethings trips travelling through Mfuwe stop at Tribal Textiles and travellers can learn how the textiles are made, enjoy lunch at The Courthouse Café onsite, which is run by local chef, Dorica, and her team, and have the opportunity to buy unique artisan souvenirs.
Lusumpuko Women's Club – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Following the inflation disaster in 2008, approximately 95% of the population in Zimbabwe is unemployed or partake in informal work. Despite the traditional gender disparity, many Zimbabwean women are taking matters into their own hands, forming cooperative groups to provide services like tailoring, catering and animal husbandry. The 20 ladies in the Lusumpuko Women’s Club began as a group of women rearing chickens and providing catering services for local churches and events. The new G For Good project welcomes 1,800 G Adventures travellers visiting Victoria Falls each year, and sees the women preparing a cooking demonstration of traditional meals, much like their grandmothers and mothers used to prepare. The demonstration is followed by a meal served farm-to-table with local, in-season ingredients. Rediscovering their cultural history, the project also has seen the women bonding as friends, creating a network of support and empowerment for the women and families of Lusumpuko.
Princess Sewing Cooperative – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Faced by the same challenges as the Lusumpuko Women’s Club, the women at the Princess Cooperative were struggling to make an income that could support their families. Offering tailoring services in the township of Mkhosana near Victoria Falls, the women have been provided extensive business training by Planeterra, and now offer a mending and laundry service to all G Adventures travellers travelling through Victoria Falls. The income increase means the women can now afford to pay school fees for their children and many can continue with their own education, as many only attended primary levels of education.
AidChild’s Equation Café & Gallery – Kayabwe (Equator), Uganda
With approximately 130,000 children under the age of 14 living with HIV in Uganda, the need for support, medical care and education to help them live long, healthy lives is vital. Working with AidChild, this new G For Good project supports the non-profit’s mission to provide support, medical care and education to the children and youth living with HIV in Uganda. All G Adventures travellers passing through Uganda make a stop at AidChild’s Equation Café and Gallery, located at the equator line. Here, travellers will enjoy the paintings and crafts made by local artists, as well as a meal made with traditional Ugandan ingredients, but with a modern twist. A grant has also been provided to train the nine staff members working at the café and gallery.
*G Adventures’ Agent Panel consists of 1,800 agents worldwide who know G Adventures and have signed up to share their feedback.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
