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three-day Wisconsin/Michigan tour in July. Normally we have from one to three coaches on this tour, but I limited it to 20 people. Because it was our first tour, I was running it and wanted to make sure all the protocols were followed to a tee. Starting up our travel program was really not going to be a money maker, but (it was a) confidence boost that many people want,” Swan continued.
However, Galaxy has had to cancel some fall departures, including a Colorado trip because certain attractions and restaurants were not available, plus the airline was booking to full capacity which discouraged her travelers. “I still have a tour scheduled this year for Opryland Christmas. Fingers crossed I’m hoping things pan out,” Swan said.
Moostash Joe Tours, a regional tour company based in Fremont, Nebraska has also (literally) tested the waters with a group of 20 heading up to Minnesota in August for a five-day fishing trip. “They expressed interest and we don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t operate the trip,” said Joey Spellerberg.
When groups are traveling, it’s often to wide-open spaces. Kate Scopetti from wholesale operator MARS said, “Our first tour ran in September, 25 passengers to Montana.” The trip wasn’t without pitfalls as they encountered a myriad of di culties in operating tours during COVID. “We have to all be flexible during these times.
More
Less
14%
86%
More
Less
14%
86%
When do you expect to return to running regular group departures?
Q1 of 2021
Q2 of 2021
Q3 of 2021
Q4 of 2021
Not sure
5%
8% 22%
25%
Do you feel that having a COVID-19 vaccine readily available will bring back normalcy to your travel program?
40% 33.3%
Yes
No
66.6%
Anything could change at any time,” she concluded.
After cancelling all of their spring and summer trips, western Iowa-based Star Destinations had two tour departures this fall. The first was a seven-day trip to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and the other a six-day trip to Door County, Wisconsin. “Obviously, like everyone else, we cancelled everything for the season. But we wanted to see what the fall would bring. We have one more trip, a Christmas program at the beginning of December,” said Cathy Greteman, owner of the company. Greteman not only has dealt with tour cancellations, but her bus company’s fleet of over 180 coaches has been grounded.
Star put a number of measures in place to ensure a safe journey, including keeping load factors down. “Even though the numbers were small, I think that really helped, because many of the places we visited, even restaurants, were okay with smaller groups.” Protocol included a wellness form filled out by passengers before departure, daily temperature checks, sanitizing and mask-wearing.
“About halfway through the trips, people realized we were doing everything we could to make them comfortable,” said Greteman. “We always do a comment sheet at the end of every tour, and we asked them about the safety and protocol. The comments were very positive about that. They want that feeling of security. All of them were very positive about travel for the coming season.”
SHIFTING TO SMALLER GROUP SIZES
With social distancing and demand tampered, organizers are looking at how they can turn a profit with fewer passengers. “Looking at the pathway here we’re looking at smaller groups and we’re going to have to price for smaller groups,” said Cline. “Prices have to go up, they just do.”
One element that’s emerged from COVID is the emergence of private group travel “bubbles.” Small group adventure operator G Adventures is allowing groups of 12 to book exclusive departures. “If you want to book your bubble, you can pull one of our trips o the rack, plus we o er tailor-made services and create a trip just for you – tell us who the passengers are going to be, you get your own trip and date. You know everybody who’s going to be on that tour,” said Steve Lima, director of marketing.
G has also created a Travel With Confidence Plus collection, a series of tours to 37 destinations with reduced group sizes, all private transportation, the ability to book single rooms at 50% o , and assurances of enhanced hygiene at all hotel properties on tour.
“WE’RE SELLING A LOT OF BETTER HOTELS, BETTER MEALS AND BETTER ACTIVITIES IN 2021.” BOB CLINE, US TOURS “WE HAVE TO ALL BE FLEXIBLE DURING THESE TIMES.” KATE SCOPETTI, MARS
Taking the private group travel to a new level is a new company that launched this summer. Manifest Escapes is the brainchild of former Frontier Airlines CEO Je Potter. “We’re about experiential travel, close to home. There are so many places, so many experiences right in our own backyard that we haven’t tapped into. So, I focused in on that, recognizing that smaller group travel experience, three- or four-day getaways with active adults from ages 35-70. We’re getting you outdoors— whitewater rafting, kayaking, golf, culinary trips.”
One unique element of Manifest’s strategy is the implementation of private aviation, a component that Potter has extensive experience with. “We recognized early on that private aviation needed to be a component. We want to get you there within a couple of hours and that just means more time experiencing the destination.”
Shifting its focus towards smaller groups, Globus announced in July that all group departures to exotic destinations—South America, Asia, South Pacific and Africa—will travel with an average of 20 passengers. They’ve done this in specific destinations in the past, and this policy shift with exotic destinations has been met with a fantastic response from travelers and travel advisors according to Cory McGillivray, channel marketing manager for the Globus family of brands.
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR 2021?
“We feel like we’re in a fantastic spot operationally,” said McGillivray. “We can begin to travel as soon as people are ready. Demand is there for 2021. The question is, can the experience be what we promised? Are places open? Will museums be allowed to let our guests in? Will we be able to share those experiences?”
Globus introduced a new product line called Undiscovered, which touches o -the-beaten path destinations across the globe. “People always wanted to have that unique experience, away from crowds,” said McGillivray. Tours are designed for repeat travelers that have traveled to the capital cities already and seek a new experience. This naturally caters to a bit smaller group size.
“When I started to put together 2021, I had most everything in the books before the virus hit,” said Larry Dawson, from Hawthorn Bank in Missouri, who had a successful Colorado trip go out this September. “I had an African trip planned for February, a trip to Iceland and a Rhine River cruise planned. I didn’t feel a lot of people were going to be ready for that. There’s going to be a lot of us that are going to want to tiptoe back into the water.”
Dawson continued, “When I reworked 2021, I concentrated on Pointing to the rise in family group travel, planners have been domestic trips and I think we’ve got a pretty good lineup. In late fielding more requests. “If our new inquiries are any indication, February, we’re going to do Wyoming, a whole new perspective on families have been spending the last several months dreaming Yellowstone. That’s another trip that’s going to be fairly conducive about the destinations they haven’t been able to visit and the to being outdoors. We’ve got a Lake Huron trip that includes experiences they haven’t been able to enjoy,” says Haisley Smith, Mackinac Island, a Snake River Cruise and a Poconos trip planned vice president of marketing and development for Brownell Travel. for September.” “Travelers want to make up for lost time and cancelled vacations
Dawson’s pivot mirrors what other group organizers who in the with longer, more immersive trips with multiple generations.” past focused on international have shifted to domestic tours for As a result of the pandemic, companies like Brownell have seen 2021. “I did not have anything go out in 2020,” said Sue Rudolph, a rise in “hobby travel,” from people who took deep dives into owner of Amazing Running Tours. “I had to cancel the event I new skills and interests during quarantine. “The traveler who organize in Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Marathon held the first week started taking Zoom guitar lessons wants to visit South America in October. As far as 2021, I have clients that are ready to travel as to learn from a Flamenco guitarist; and the family who completed soon as things open up. I have a couple of cycling groups planning a 5,000-piece puzzle of Monet’s gardens want to visit Giverny,” on traveling to Europe. Beyond that, Rudolph has created a section Smith adds. on her website dedicated to closer-to-home destinations. “I have One thing’s for certain, we cannot go back to the way things been shifting to domestic travel. I have never sold anything in the were. That group travel industry is dead. It’s not coming back. USA before and am marketing through email and social media.” On the other side of this will be a new business model that’s built
While safety and security will be important going forward, on unique shared experiences and spending time with people we so will quality of inclusions. “We’re selling a lot of better hotels, care about who realize it’s not just the destination that matters, better meals and better activities in 2021,” said Cline. it’s the people we’re traveling with that makes the group travel
As for 2021 plans, Galaxy’s Swan reports that she is going full experience special. steam ahead. “I think it’s important that we get the options out there. Folks trust me, they know I’m going to make a decision to run a trip or cancel it based on their health, security and they know they are GOWAY GROUPS ONLY PRESENTS getting every cent back if I cancel the trip. It is important that people make plans for the future.” BOOK YOUR BUBBLE
SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? & GO*
In an article that appeared in Forbes, author Seth Cohen, states, “For many travelers, the pandemic has wounded their sense of connectedness with the world outside of their homes.” Cohen expects there to be an intense demand for travel that weaves experiences with community, using travel not just as an opportunity to go, but an opportunity to grow as well. “Travel providers will need to be prepared to help their customers create community in new ways, and with new people,” he said.
“As families and ‘quaran-teams’ start to find ways to safely break out of their bubbles, they will be looking for ways to share new, exciting experiences together. Even those travelers who have long sworn o group travel will find that taking journeys with ‘their group’ is a safer and more meaningful way to go,” Cohen states. These groups will want to reconnect, and travel professionals need to be thinking of ways to cater to the needs of these “traveling tribes” in new and innovative ways.
Explore the Underground Railroad on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Some of America’s most notable abolitionists have ties to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It’s only logical the Underground Railroad would have a significant mark on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay. Your pre-FAM tour begins with a stop at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Creek. Through multimedia exhibits, her important life is on display. In nearby Cambridge, the Bucktown General Store operates as a museum containing African-American artifacts connected to slavery. You will also visit the historic Linchester Mill in Caroline County, where grain was sold to George Washington’s troops. Check into the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay before departing for a short drive to Suicide Bridge Restaurant in Hurlock for dinner.
Another stop is the James Webb Cabin, which housed Webb, a free African-American farmer who built his home from nearby materials. Frederick Douglass Park on the Tuckahoe in Queen Anne spans more than 100 acres and features walking trails and scenic overlooks. A visit to the Eastern Shore is only complete with a stop in St. Michaels and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Begin another day with a walking tour of Easton’s Hill Community, one of the oldest free African-American communities in the U.S. You can also take a tour of charming Chestertown and enjoy lunch at 98 Cannon Riverfront Grille. Tour the Henry Highland School and discover Isaac Mason’s incredible story.
Southern Maryland: Where Time & Tide Meet
You’ll love the Southern Maryland stories, charm and hospitality as you travel back in time. What better way to begin your pre-FAM than a pleasant ride followed by lunch at the newly renovated Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort themed restaurant? While in Chesapeake Beach, you can visit the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum with its updated exhibits and building enhancements. Next stop is the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons. In addition to live Chesapeake Bay aquatic life, the museum shares how the prehistoric past, environment and maritime heritage tell the story of the area.
For breakfast, don’t miss Linda’s Café in Lexington Park, a local favorite for more than 20 years. Next, head to Historic St. Mary’s City. On the site of Maryland’s first capital, this is Southern Maryland’s outdoor living history site with 17th century characters, exhibits, a print shop and inn.
Lunch can be had in a Lexington Park favorite, PAX River Ale House, a classic casual pub menu with 30 beers on tap. After enjoying a delicious meal, visit Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, the only naval museum dedicated to aviation research, development, testing and evaluation.
Then head to Leonardtown, where you can enjoy its small-town charm. There are shops of all kinds, including Shepherd’s Old Field Market, where 60 stores o er unique home goods and special gifts. It’s just a short walk to The Front Porch for a dinner of Southern Coastal Cuisine in a historic house with a large porch. After dinner, you can relax and unwind at the newly renovated The Inn at Leonardtown.
Travel to historic Port Tobacco for stories of spies, revolutionaries and an arsonist in one of Maryland’s largest international seaports prior to the American Revolution. Just a few minutes away is the Thomas Stone National Historic Site, which honors one of four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence. The unusual mansion is typical of a Southern Maryland tobacco plantation along with its 19th century farm buildings.
Historic Sites & Savory Bites
Fascinating stories of history and fulfilling dining experiences combine to make this pre-FAM a favorite. First stop is the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg. Tour the home of the first American-born saint. There are a variety of group tours available, including a Civil War Tour. Lunch is at nearby Carriage House Inn, serving classic American fare in a historic 1857 building complete with stone fireplace. It’s on to the Frederick Visitor Center, a perfect stop for groups with ample motorcoach and welcome bags. Following is a windshield tour of historic downtown Frederick followed by Mt. Olivet Cemetery, where there are a number of notable monuments.
The next day, travel southeast to the site of the Battle of Monocacy, an American Civil War battle fought July 9, 1864. Panoramic views of the rolling countryside and historic homes tell a story of local and national significance. The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is the next stop. You’ll follow in the footsteps of soldiers and doctors from the harshest conditions to medical innovations that are still in use today. Before departing Frederick, lunch can be enjoyed at Brewer’s Alley, the county’s original brewpub. In North Bethesda, visit Mansion at Strathmore, a premier art institution in the mid-Atlantic. The historic mansion hosts more than two dozen exhibitions annually.
Washington, D.C. Days and National Harbor Nights
On this pre-FAM you’ll be exploring Washington’s newest options by day and unwinding and relaxing in Maryland each evening. After departing from your BWI hotel, you’ll make a stop in Clinton at the historic Surratt House Museum. Learn the fate of this co-conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Arrive at the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. for a presentation in the Rasmuson Theater. Today’s lunch will present an opportunity to enjoy foods of the Western Hemisphere people at the Mitsitam Native Foods Café. Following will be a brief tour of the Smithsonian National Native American History Museum. Next, it’s the National Law Enforcement Museum, which resides three stories underground. Walk in the footsteps of law enforcement with high-tech interactive exhibits. You will also visit the new Planet Word Museum, a museum with a mission to inspire a love of words and language as language is essential to every aspect of our life and necessary on today’s complex issues. Check into Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor. Enjoy the view on The Capital Skywheel Champagne Ride.
Following breakfast at the Gaylord, you’ll again visit Washington, D.C., beginning at the amazing state-of-the-art Museum of the Bible. Biblical artifacts and objects tell the compelling history of the Bible. Lunch is on the way to your next stop, International Spy Museum. This new museum with its interactive exhibits and installations and first-person accounts puts you in the shoes of a spy.
In the morning, savor breakfast at Gaylord then take a ride to Fort Belvoir and the National Museum of the United States Army. The new museum celebrates
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CALL NORMA DOBROWOLSKI | 800.626.2326 | OCOCEAN.COM/GROUP-TRAVEL 240 years of Army history with a comprehensive portrayal of all branches of the Army while honoring our nation’s soldiers. Another great stop is Artechouse, a museum featuring an innovative art experience at the intersection of creative artists and technology. Before departing for Baltimore, you can visit the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. The museum interprets American history through the eyes of the AfricanAmerican experience.
From Beach to Bay: Taste of the Shore
There’s also a post-FAM, From Beach to Bay: Taste of the Shore. Crossing over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, you’ll discover an adventure from shore to shore. You’ll visit the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, the Salisbury Zoo and the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. It’s on to Assateague Island National Seashore with its migrating wild horses. You’ll be enjoying all the amenities of an Ocean City four-diamond resort hotel with views of the Ocean City Boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. In a land of rich agriculture and bountiful waters you’ll delve into the local food scene and sample the delicious cuisine.
Maryland is open for business. Start your planning at https://www.visitmaryland.org/ group-travel, or email Rich Gilbert at rgilbert@ visitmaryland.org, or call 410-767-6288.
Register early for the FAM(s) of your choice at https://marketplace.buses.org/ registration-3/optional-activities-2/
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