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Specialist operator Latin Routes may only be four years old, but the team certainly has a wealth of information to share. Andrew Doherty joins agents on the Thames for a day of product training, wine tasting and Argentinian cuisine.
As we sail up and down the river’s grey waters, from the London Eye to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, Jessica Bain, director and co-founder at Latin Routes, captivates us all with her intricate knowledge of Latin America and its highlights.
“People need a travel agent for South America as it’s an up-and coming destination. Your clients need that advice and knowledge,” she says.
Fresh from Latin Routes’ first fam trip to Argentina this year, Bain is keen to share its treasures. “We recommend your clients spend two or three nights in Buenos Aires first. It’s an all-year-round destination with amazing shopping, gourmet cuisine and a colourful culture. Next send them to Iguazu Falls – I would recommend clients see the waterfalls from both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides. For wine lovers, Mendoza (famed for Malbecs) is perfect. Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares national park is beyond amazing too, and if clients want something completely different, this is where to send them.”
With deserts in the north and glaciers in the south, Chile has plenty to keep clients entertained, Bain says. And British Airways flying direct to Santiago from January 2017 further adds to the draw, she adds. “You’ve got everything you want from the city – great restaurants and hotels. If you fly north, you have the Atacama Desert – the highest in the world. It’s one of the best places to stargaze. We can’t forget Torres del Paine national park either, with its famous W trek. It is just over a two-hour flight from Santiago.”
Bain professes Rio de Janeiro as being ideal for beach lovers with Copacabana a notable hot spot for sun worshippers. “For a different kind of beach, though, clients should check out Fortaleza in the north-west. It’s laid back – you pay local prices and can eat cheaply in local restaurants. For those who want silver sands and turquoise seas, Brazil is the only South American destination to offer that.”
Three to four nights should be enough time for clients to take in the Amazon, Bain explains. “If they take a river cruise, they go a lot deeper into the jungle and ultimately see a lot more flora and fauna. It’s very safe, and even though it’s set up for tourism, it still feels like a proper adventure.” For those looking for a little more respite, Juma Amazon Lodge should be right up their street, says Bain.
For clients who appreciate culture and history, Bain suggests they check out the capital of Lima. “You’ve got plenty of museums there and a cathedral, but I would warn them it can get quite busy and noisy. Send your customers to Cusco (for Machu Picchu), from where they can travel to Lake Titicaca, the highest point in Peru.”
Bain wraps up with a reminder about the lucrative earnings agents can enjoy. Consultants booking the tailor-made itineraries, usually two weeks on average at £3,000-3,500pp, will receive 12% commission. Furthermore, for every five bookings agents will have a chance to win a 10-night holiday to any destination in South America.
The training culminates in a wine-tasting game followed by fine Argentinian-inspired cuisine at Cau in St Katherine Docks. The whole day certainly gives the agents in attendance an appetite to sell Latin America.
Also in attendance were members of the Silversea Cruises sales team. Donatella Valzasina, regional sales manager, London and south-east, talked about the line’s newest ship.
“We are taking delivery of Silver Muse in April 2017. Muse offers the highest number of large suites in our fleet – over 300. You could say it has more of a luxury yacht feeling rather than of a cruise ship,” she says.
With all outward-facing rooms, and marble bathrooms and butler service for every guest, Silver Muse exudes opulence. An interesting fact Valzasina shared was that guest numbers have been limited to 596 – even though ships of similar size can accommodate up to 3,000
passengers.
“This means we have more space for guests than ever. They can turn up to the restaurants with no reservation and will never feel cramped when relaxing onboard,” Valzasina says.
"Silver Muse’s 66-day inaugural Grand Voyage, departing October 2017, is priced from £25,900pp for a classic veranda suite and will mean that clients can adventure down the coast of South America from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso. “Prices will go up closer to the sailing, of course.”
Silversea is offering some exciting new itineraries onboard Silver Explorer too. Akvile Marozaite, Silversea’s regional sales manager – expeditions, shares details of its Antarctic expedition taking place during January-March, 2017.
“This trip will have your clients taking in some of the most breathtaking nature and wildlife. We adventure across rolling moorlands to see the rock hopper penguins and we provide clients with intimate encounters with the nesting Albatross too,” she says.
Clients will journey ashore onboard rubber inflatable boats and will be joined by an expedition team comprising marine biologists, ex-scientists and guides,” adds Marozaite.
“By having a large number of accompanying staff, we can organise experiences for all fitness levels, from fossil hunting near the shore to trekking further inland to spot more wildlife. Back onboard, guests will gather for a daily recap of what they have learnt before having a chance to take a dip in one of the two hot tubs available.”
Kerry Cook, sales consultant at Deva Travel, Chester: “You’re meeting the companies face-to-face and you can draw on their experience. South America is my area of interest. I’ve been to Peru and Brazil but not all the destinations that Latin Routes sell. It was great to get the knowledge of the areas that you will potentially cover.”
Laura Diores, managing director at Priority Go, London: “I prefer events like this, when there is so much detail on the product – you get to learn much more. We don’t sell South America that often, but we want to in the future.”
Steve Curry, owner of Holiday Affair, Broxbourne: “The day was structured very well and well executed. I can now pass on what I’ve learnt to future customers with confidence. It was one of the best training sessions that I have ever been to.”
