{"id":184371,"date":"2025-09-22T16:19:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T06:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latteluxurynews.com\/?p=184371"},"modified":"2025-09-22T18:26:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:26:17","slug":"collette-innovation-drives-touring-revival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latteluxurynews.com\/2025\/09\/22\/collette-innovation-drives-touring-revival\/","title":{"rendered":"Collette leads touring revival with slower pacing, smarter design"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Travellers that once may have shied away from guided touring are now getting on board thanks to a wave of recent innovation, according to <strong>Collette Australia Managing Director Karen Deveson<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a conversation with <strong><em>LATTE<\/em><\/strong>, Deveson shared that a resurgence is underway, with a series of enhancements from Collette playing an important part in driving the trend, while also catering to fresh expectations around flexibility, authenticity and depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s definitely a buzz,\u201d Deveson said. \u201cWe\u2019re hearing this from agents and travellers alike. Touring is having a moment &#8211; and innovation is a big part of why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/latteluxurynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Karen-Deveson-1132-x-560.png\" alt=\"Collette innovation\" width=\"1132\" height=\"560\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Collette\u2019s approach to innovation is focused on reshaping what a guided tour looks and feels like. This includes everything from smaller group sizes and slower-paced itineraries, to a strong emphasis on local knowledge and emotionally rich experiences. The company\u2019s \u201cExplorations\u201d product \u2014-with average group sizes of 19 &#8211; has become a key part of this strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese smaller groups allow us to break stereotypes,\u201d Deveson explained. \u201cPeople imagine big coaches and packed schedules, but the reality is much more intimate and immersive. We\u2019re staying longer in each place, using boutique accommodation, and spending less time on coaches. It\u2019s all designed to let people feel more connected to where they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This evolving definition of touring is also creating new opportunities for travel advisors, who are increasingly looking to \u201cstack\u201d bookings &#8211; combining cruises, land tours, and flights into seamless itineraries. This approach not only delivers value to travellers but ensures agents remain at the centre of the booking experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/latteluxurynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CVO_Masai_Mara_Kenya_04-1132-x-560.png\" alt=\"Collette innovation\" width=\"1132\" height=\"560\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Importantly, Collette\u2019s innovation isn\u2019t limited to logistics. It extends deeply into tour design, where the company takes an unusually hands-on approach. Unlike many operators, it avoids using destination management companies in most regions. Instead, it relies on in-house tour designers who live in the destinations they plan for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe think the best way to create a meaningful experience is to have someone local design it \u2014 someone who really knows the place and cares deeply about it,&#8221; Deveson said. &#8220;That\u2019s an enormous difference\u2026 they are feeling as though they are living life through the lens of a local.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/latteluxurynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/thijs-degenkamp-lBE-xnnC6OI-unsplash-1132-x-560.png\" alt=\"Collette innovation\" width=\"1132\" height=\"560\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>And while Collette positions itself as a premium brand, it deliberately avoids the term \u201cluxury\u201d &#8211; a choice rooted in its belief that authenticity and connection are more valuable than five-star labels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t use the term luxury because sometimes, in order to give the most authentic experience, you might not be staying in accommodation that would be deemed five to six star,\u201d Deveson said. \u201cBut I feel that our itineraries and experiences make you feel as special as if you are a luxury traveller.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier this month, Collette released 10 immersive new small group Explorations tours for 2026. New \u201cclassic\u201d and \u201cspotlight\u201d tours have also been added to the portfolio bringing the total number of new tours to 20.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Travellers that once may have shied away from guided touring are now getting on board thanks to a wave of recent innovation, according to Collette Australia Managing Director Karen Deveson. In a conversation with LATTE, Deveson shared that a resurgence is underway, with a series of enhancements from Collette playing an important part in driving [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":184381,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9709],"tags":[722201,544217412,544217112,544216768,35348622],"class_list":["post-184371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tours","tag-collette","tag-innovation","tag-karen-deveson","tag-touring","tag-tours-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Collette leads touring revival with slower pacing, smarter design<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Guided touring is experiencing a bold resurgence, driven by a wave of innovation - with Collette tapping into the trend.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/latteluxurynews.com\/2025\/09\/22\/collette-innovation-drives-touring-revival\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Collette leads touring revival with slower pacing, smarter design\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Guided touring is experiencing a bold resurgence, driven by a wave of innovation - 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