Avanti Destinations has launched dozens of fixed-priced, non-customizable land packages in Asia, Latin America and the South Pacific that give travel advisors a new way to book FIT vacations for clients.
In total, Avanti -- which solely works with the trade and doesn't sell to consumers -- is offering 58 packages in 18 countries. Advisors and their clients can see the price in advance for different rate seasons. That price is inclusive of in-country air travel, but not international air travel.
This is the first time Avanti has offered a product like this.
Avanti CEO Paul Barry said one of the reasons why the company introduced the product is the number of new advisors that have entered the industry in recent years. While they might be familiar with putting together FIT trips in North America and Europe, the destinations Avanti has targeted might not be as familiar to them.
"Talking to many of the advisors out there, going through the complex work of doing a custom FIT is sometimes not the best first step in creating a great vacation experience for their client," Barry said.
The new packages will benefit advisors with budget-conscious clients. When booking FIT trips, Barry said, prices aren't quoted until the end of the process. But Avanti's new packages present pricing up front.
"It at least starts the conversation and pre-qualifies the client, making sure that they're within the price range and getting the type of trip that they're looking for," he said.
Avanti also pointed out that the packages can come in at a lower price point than other FIT options, but they still offer the same tours and experiences travelers want.
The packages are featured on three new microsites, one each for Asia, Latin America and the South Pacific.
Fixed-rate, non-customizable packages are indicated by a lock symbol on the microsites. Packages include accommodations, tours, experiences and transfers, including in-country air. Avanti chooses the hotel. While advisors are free to add pre- and post-trip packages, the itineraries themselves cannot be changed.
The packages include a mix of private, shared and small-group tours and experiences.
The microsites include a "share PDF" tab making it easy for advisors to send packages to clients for review.
Right now, packages are available in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
Similar packages for Europe are expected to be introduced next year for travel in 2026.