On Air with Avanti Destinations

Avanti Destinations
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel

Welcome to On Air with Avanti Destinations! If you're a Travel Advisor who is looking to stay ahead of the game, you've tuned in to the right place. Get ready to have the lowdown on hot destinations, what's booking like crazy, and helpful tips that would turn curiosity into bookings. Ready to dive in? Let's go!

  1. 1h ago

    EP13: Group Travel - Sample Itineraries

    In episode 13, we walk through Avanti Destinations’ group travel sample itineraries, ten trips that each start with a specific niche or affinity, from wine lovers and woodcarvers to quilters and golfers. The episode opens with food and wine: the Wine and Dine Italy Trip through Bologna and Milan, the Chilean Wine Tour through Santiago and Santa Cruz, and the Ireland Cider Tour through Dublin, Cork, and Killarney. From there it turns to heritage travel with the Mennonite Heritage Tour across Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, which traces one community’s history from the Zollikon farmhouse to Witmarsum, the birthplace of Menno Simons. The craft and culture stops include the London Woodcarvers Trip, built around the carver Grinling Gibbons, the Scotland Quilt Club Trip through the Highlands and the Isle of Skye, and Explore Japan, with its pottery workshop, tea ceremony, and calligraphy lesson. The back half moves to leisure and active groups: the Spain Golf Tour through Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville, the Active Group to Guatemala, and Explore Portugal, the longest itinerary in the collection at twelve days, from the Algarve coast to Terceira Island in the Azores. The throughline: every itinerary starts with a specific kind of traveler, not a generic tour with a theme bolted on. Important Links: Check out the Group Travel Sample Itineraries webpage for details on all itineraries. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

  2. Sep 9

    Ep12: Unique Accommodations

    In episode 12, we take a tour through Avanti Destinations' Unique Accommodations collection, traveling from the edge of the Arctic Circle to the jungles of Central America, the cliffs of Patagonia, the hills of Asia, and the islands and deserts of the South Pacific, all built around one idea: a hotel can be a destination in itself. The episode starts in Arctic Europe, covering Finland's trio of ice and glass-igloo properties (Arctic Tree House Hotel, Arctic Snowhotel and Glass Igloos, and Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort), Swedish Lapland's Arctic Bath and Treehotel in Harads, and Norway's original snow-and-ice property, Snowhotel Kirkenes. From there it moves through Ashford Castle in Ireland and Santorini Secret Suites and Spa in Greece, before heading to the Western Hemisphere for the off-grid, stilted luxury of Nayara Bocas del Toro in Panama and the cliffside, all-inclusive Tierra Patagonia in Chile. The back half spans Asia and the South Pacific: the traditional ryokan experience at Gora Kadan in Japan, the jungle-pathway villas of Keemala in Thailand, the elevated glamping of Longitude 131 at Uluru, and Likuliku Lagoon Resort's overwater bures in Fiji. The throughline: accommodations that are part of the adventure rather than just the backdrop to it. Important Links: Check out the Unique Accommodations e-brochure. Check out The Nordics microsite, created in partnership with The Nordics. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

  3. Aug 10

    Ep11: Avanti's Group Travel

    In episode 11, Gina Bang (Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Katherine Jackson (Director of Product and Yield) to introduce Avanti's group travel program and make the case that group bookings belong in every advisor's toolkit, not just a specialist niche. They break down Avanti's simple definition of a group, ten or more travelers, and the two kinds of groups advisors will encounter: preformed groups that arrive ready to book, and affinity groups built from an advisor's own network of clubs, congregations, and communities. Gina and Katherine walk through real sample itineraries, from a Bologna and Milan Wine and Dine trip to a Scotland Quilt Club tour, showing how a shared interest can turn into a fully custom trip. The conversation covers the practical side too: the recommended 10:1 outreach ratio, ideal lead times, and the seven-step "Groups, Made Simple" process that carries a group from first conversation to round-the-clock in-destination support. They close with a look at Avanti's global groups infrastructure, spanning Bothell, Barcelona, Portland, and Manchester, and a challenge to advisors to start seeing their own network as untapped group inventory.  Important Links: Check out Avanti's Group Travel page. Check out our South Korea e-brochure, created in partnership with Korea Tourism Organization. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

  4. Jul 23

    Ep10: How To Get The Avanti Advantage

    Welcome to the tenth episode of Avanti's podcast: 'On Air with Avanti Destinations'!  In episode 10, Gina Bang (Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Katherine Jackson (Director of Product and Yield) to unpack Avanti Advantage and what it means for advisors partnering with Avanti Destinations. They trace Avanti's four decades as a business to business specialist in customizable international travel, now covering more than sixty countries. They walk through the tools built to help advisors quote and book faster, from InstaQuote to the full Agent Portal, along with ongoing training sessions held twice a week. The conversation moves into Avanti's four tier loyalty program, tracing how commission rates, dedicated support, and educational trips grow from Explorer status up through Globe Trotter. Gina and Katherine also detail the exclusive hotel amenity program available only through Avanti bookings, along with the new Avanti Insider Tours launching in 2026, small group experiences led by local guides across six European countries.  Important Links: Check out our South Korea e-brochure, created in partnership with Korea Tourism Organization. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

  5. Jun 24

    Ep9: Incredible Food in Unexpected Places

    Welcome to the ninth episode of Avanti's podcast: 'On Air with Avanti Destinations'!  In episode 9, Gina Bang (Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Katherine Jackson (Director of Product and Yield) to make the case that the world's most memorable culinary experiences often happen in places travelers least expect. Hosts Gina and Katherine walk through five European destinations, England (particularly London's world-class Indian food scene and Birmingham's Balti Triangle), France (Marseille's pizza culture rooted in Neapolitan immigration, plus the deep regional food traditions most tourists never reach), the cross-border Basque Region (where Spanish and French culinary traditions converge into something greater than either), Switzerland's Italian-speaking canton of Ticino (where Lugano delivers genuinely Italian cooking against a stunning lakeside backdrop), and Greece (where the real story is the enormous gap between typical tourist food and the hyper-regional, historically rooted cuisine available on a well-crafted itinerary).  Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com. Important Links: Check out our South Korea e-brochure, created in partnership with Korea Tourism Organization. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

  6. Apr 30

    Ep8: Avanti Insider Tours (Special Episode)

    Welcome to the eight episode of Avanti's podcast: 'On Air with Avanti Destinations'! This is a special episode that delves into Avanti's Insider Tours. In episode 8, Gina Bang (Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Katherine Jackson (Director of Product and Yield) to introduce one of the most exciting new additions to the Avanti portfolio — Avanti Insider Tours. Exclusive to Avanti travelers, these expertly guided small-group experiences are capped at just eight participants and guaranteed to depart twice weekly from May through October, regardless if all the eight allocated spots are filled or not. From a thousand years of royal history on the streets of Westminster to a boat ride to Murano to watch master glassmakers at work, each tour is designed to go beyond the landmarks and deliver genuine, lasting understanding of the places clients visit. Currently available across eight iconic cities — London, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, Barcelona, Dublin, and Edinburgh — these are the moments clients come home talking about. Travel Advisors are encouraged to book early, as spaces are limited and the season fills quickly. The whole month of May is National Travel Advisor Month, and to celebrate it... Avanti is offering several incentives for advisors. One of these incentives include the chance to earn complimentary Insider Tour spots. Check out this flyer for more information about the offers. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

  7. Mar 30

    Ep7: Pre & Post Cruise (Special Episode)

    Welcome to the seventh episode of the first season of Avanti's podcast: 'On Air with Avanti Destinations'! This is a special episode that delves into pre & post cruise options. In Episode 7, we're exploring one of the most powerful ways Travel Advisors can elevate their clients' cruise experiences — thoughtfully designed pre and post cruise experiences. Gina Bang (Avanti's Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Katherine (Avanti's Director of Product and Yield) to uncover how adding days and travel components (transfers, hotels, tours) to your clients' cruise vacation can easily become trip highlights in their own right. From boutique hotels with genuine local charm in London and Santiago, to private transfers that weave in unforgettable sightseeing stops, Gina and Katherine paint a vivid picture of how Advisors can further elevate cruises. Whether your clients are embarking in Barcelona, disembarking in Rome, or sailing through South America, this episode will leave them eager to experience every moment — on the ship and off. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

  8. Feb 23

    Ep6: Graubunden Spotlight

    Welcome to the sixth episode of the first season of Avanti's podcast: 'On Air with Avanti Destinations'! The first season tackles our Go365 initiative that helps Travel Advisors spark destination inspiration throughout the year. In Episode 6, we're heading to Graubunden, a breathtaking region nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps that's quickly becoming one of Europe's most inspiring travel destinations. Gina Bang (Avanti's Chief of Sales and Marketing) sits down with Ken Pringle (Avanti's Director of National Accounts) to explore what makes this remarkable corner of Switzerland so special. From newly crafted rail itineraries winding through dramatic Alpine landscapes to charming villages, wellness retreats, and rich cultural experiences, Ken and Gina paint a vivid picture of a destination that goes far beyond the ordinary. Whether your clients are seeking adventure, tranquility, or simply the romance of train travel through the Swiss Alps, this episode will leave them eager to experience Graubunden for themselves. Thank you for listening! For more information about Avanti, please go to avantidestinations.com.

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About

Welcome to On Air with Avanti Destinations! If you're a Travel Advisor who is looking to stay ahead of the game, you've tuned in to the right place. Get ready to have the lowdown on hot destinations, what's booking like crazy, and helpful tips that would turn curiosity into bookings. Ready to dive in? Let's go!

Information

  • Creator
    Avanti Destinations
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 On Air with Avanti Destinations
  • Show Website
    On Air with Avanti Destinations

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