As travel begins to reopen and travelers begin to book their long-awaited trips once again, we wanted to find out more. So, we sat down with Sheralyn Berry, President of Contiki Canada, and David Marathakis, Head of Sales at Contiki Canada, to learn what types of trips travelers are booking and what consumers can expect from a Contiki vacation.<\/p>\n
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Q:\u00a0Tell us a bit about Contiki and the products and services the company offers.<\/strong><\/p>\n At\u00a0Contiki<\/a>, we make travel a shared experience. Our trips are exclusively for those aged 18-35, and whether travelers join us solo or in a group, the trips are designed to share incredible experiences with travelers with similar interests from all around the world. We bring people together, we help them discover new cultures, new places, new flavors, and even themselves by showing them the authentic side of the destinations they visit.<\/p>\n The year 2020 was not quite the travel-heavy, adventurous year we had in mind. However, as the world reopens and adapts to a new way of traveling, we want travelers to feel amazing about it and have something epic to look forward to. So, Contiki is here to help with everything from transportation to health advice, changing plans and sorting accommodation. There\u2019s no need to do all the work alone when guests can travel with Contiki \u2013 we take over the more challenging travel-related tasks. And when travelers are done exploring all our trips in\u00a0Europe<\/a>, they can check out our other trips\u00a0around the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n Q:\u00a0Why book with Contiki for your next vacation?<\/strong><\/p>\n We make travel easier. Transportation, accommodation, experiences, and plenty of delicious meals are all included in the price of a trip, so travelers never have to worry about the details. Our expert Trip Managers, Drivers, and Local Guides sort out the logistics so guests can travel hassle-free.<\/p>\n From start to finish, on each trip, guests will be traveling with their own\u00a0\u201ctravel bubble\u201d<\/em>\u00a0of Contiki travelers. All activities and meals will take place with these travelers only, and the entire trip will be overseen by our highly trained Trip Manager. We\u2019ve vetted all local suppliers and guides to ensure that hygiene and distancing protocols are adhered to at all times. From the time when the booking is made to the day of departure, we\u2019ll communicate regularly and will keep each guest up to date on any changes or developments so they\u2019re ready to go.<\/p>\n Q:\u00a0What locations and types of travel are consumers booking with Contiki for 2021 and 2022?<\/strong><\/p>\n What has been positive to see is that 18-35 year old\u2019s still want to travel and are booking! We are seeing two main regions that are of interest to future travelers: Canada and Europe. We recently launched four brand new trips in Canada as local adventures, after seeing demand pick up for local travel, which we noticed after conducting a survey this year among 1,100 Canadian millennials and Gen Z travelers. What is drawing our travelers to these regions are the experiences that Contiki offers \u2013 from visiting a Wolfdog sanctuary as a\u00a0Contiki Cares<\/em><\/a>\u00a0initiative in\u00a0Banff<\/a>, going whale watching in\u00a0Halifax<\/a>, or spending an evening at an authentic sugar shack in\u00a0Montreal<\/a>, these are just some of the new additions to our newly-launched Canada local adventure trips. In Europe, Contiki has launched over 20 new trips and experiences that cater to every traveler\u2019s interests. Contiki also has a series of active trips that include experiences like yoga and surfing, as well as a cycling trips through\u00a0France<\/a>\u00a0where travelers can indulge in a\u00a0Special Stay<\/em>\u00a0at our very own French Chateau (don\u2019t worry, it is not the Tour de France). We have also included eight Pride-dedicated itineraries alongside our existing European trips to offer an even greater immersive experience and cater to various interests.<\/p>\n Q:\u00a0For North American travelers looking to travel domestically, what does Contiki offer?<\/strong><\/p>\n When the pandemic caused borders to close, Contiki adapted our Canadian product to reflect the desire of our travelers who wished to see our amazing country. Contiki introduced experiences such as exploring the mountains of\u00a0Whistler<\/a>\u00a0on the Vallea Lumina light show, a locally-guided tour of Quebec City, or sampling a pint of Alexander Keith\u2019s in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Contiki is looking into adding new USA trips to complement our existing itineraries which will resume operating when conditions improve.<\/p>\n Q:\u00a0How have your tours and offerings changed in response to the pandemic?<\/strong><\/p>\n As we started to see that international travel was not going to be easy or as readily available in 2020 as anticipated, we took the opportunity to create exciting and experiential trips in our own backyard. With travelers not able to venture abroad, the desire to travel did not disappear. Contiki created four incredible local adventures spanning from coast to coast. With these trips, guests can hit the slopes this winter on our\u00a0Ski Banff<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Ski Whistler<\/em><\/a>\u00a0trip which have been selling very well since we launched early August. If mountain activities and relaxing at the spa are not at the top of your bucket list, we also we have two immersive trips in Ontario and Quebec as well as Atlantic Canada. Guests can skate on the Rideau Canal, kayak on the Bay of Fundy, or enjoy the delicious cuisine of Eastern Canada \u2013 lobster, say no more.<\/p>\n Contiki is offering over 350+ itineraries across six continents. We have added more exceptional experiences in destination, and we\u2019ve hand-picked unique accommodations to make each night\u2019s stay even more memorable. We have a trip for every traveler, and we are looking forward to getting on the road and welcoming travelers back once again.<\/p>\n Q:\u00a0What types of safety protocols has Contiki put in place to protect travelers?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contiki has introduced\u00a0Well-being Protocols<\/a>\u00a0which were established in collaboration with the\u00a0World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC),<\/a>\u00a0the World Health Organization (WHO), and various government agencies. While guests travel with us, they can be sure we are taking every step to ensure the well-being of all our team and travelers on each trip.<\/p>\n Here are the ways we make booking a trip easy, secure and flexible with peace of\u00a0mind\u00a0guaranteed:<\/p>\n\n