INSPIRING Journeys has bulked up its 2019/20 Australia and New Zealand brochure, introducing four new Australian itineraries to its portfolio. The fresh brochure features 13 small group journeys ranging from five to 22 days in length.
Speaking to travelBulletin at the official launch of the program, AAT Kings and Inspiring Journeys managing director Hans Belle said the brand had reached a “pivotal” time in its growth.
“Nine itineraries is probably not enough for us to firmly establish ourselves in the market,” Belle said. “That’s why this year we’ve introduced four new itineraries and we think we can back those four because of the strength of the pre-existing nine.”
Belle said the move to grow the Inspiring Journeys program was supported by “really strong, double digit growth” in 2017/18.
“We’re feeling really confident about the category of small group touring,” he said.
The additions include the 10-day Ultimate Territory in Style, which will explore Kakadu’s ancient gorges, wetlands and wildlife before flying to the Red Centre and experiencing Uluru and the mystical domes of Kata Tjuta.
Also new are the seven-day Tasmania’s Footsteps and Trails, eight-day The Unchartered Coast and seven-day A Journey to the West.
Inspiring Journeys was previously promoted within AAT Kings’ product range and since expanded to a stand-alone brand, with Belle noting it was performing “really well” on its own. “What we can see is that [Inspiring Journeys] is going to be a really important part of the portfolio but it needs to be at arms-length, it needs to be stand-alone and it can’t be distracted,” he said.
“It just is a different product, a different experience and a different value proposition and so that’s how we treat it,” Belle added.
