Globus family's exotic portfolio continues to expand

Safe to say that Kim Vincent has one of the best gigs out there.

The Globus family of brands product and business development manager is responsible for South/Central America, in addition to Hawaii, so she is constantly exploring new options to share with travellers.

Having been with the company for 10 years, Vincent has visited South/Central America somewhere between 60 to 70 times. While the destination has been part of the Globus family's portfolio for 35 years, the past three have seen a major surge in demand with guest numbers tripling in that time.

"Everyone will continue to think Europe when they think Globus," she admitted in an interview with travel trade media last week, "but the next destination is South America and we're putting a lot of focus on growing the region... We have a very good, diverse portfolio and we consider ourselves the experts."

As of 2015, all Globus product lines are now available in the region, with Cosmos being the most recent addition. Avalon cruises in the Galapagos and on the Amazon River, while Globus and Monograms host guests in a number of countries, the latter of which has the most robust program.

Destinations include Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and Chile in South America, plus Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama in Central America. New additions are on the horizon, such as Colombia in Monograms' 2016 program and Uruguay for Globus and Cosmos.

"There are very few areas that we don't go to right now, and if we're not going, that simply means there is not the infrastructure required by the Globus family of brands to be there," Vincent said.

Regardless of which brand travellers decide suits them best, itineraries have been designed to optimize a guest's experience in the destination, whether it be special arrangements to visit Machu Picchu or unique opportunities to get up close and personal with local cultures and people.

"There are a lot of great reasons to visit South/Central America," Vincent said, listing off everything from the cities and spectacular wildlife (Amazon rainforest, anyone?) to the ancient civilizations and native villages.

And although there's no denying what she has to say, why then has it taken so long for international travellers to take interest in the region?

"I think it's a lack of knowledge around the destination," Vincent said. "I don't think a lot of people associate South America with cosmopolitan cities like Buenos Aires - it's the Paris of South America. They don't associate it with ancient civilizations - it's really fascinating to visit areas like Peru where you've heard about the Inca culture but then you learn about the other periods and the foundation of civilization. You get to learn about history of the Indian cultures there, and there's also the nature side.

"There is just so much to offer that really, it could suit everyone's interests."

Not to mention, other benefits include its close proximity (so no worries about jetlag) great value for dollar and the increased air accessibility from North American gateways.

"The biggest thing is that for me is that South and Central America is safe," she adds. "I do constantly get asked that question and I understand it, but it is a safe destination."

The region seems to be the go-to for Globus travellers who have maximized the opportunities in Europe and are now looking for something new. Monograms passengers are somewhat of an exception, Vincent explains, as they tend to be of a younger demographic.

While fundamentals are the same, the Monograms operation is slightly different in Vincent's neck of the woods compared to Europe, with programs operated like private tours. Local hosts cater itineraries based on what guests want to see and depending on interests, such as food or art.

Sightseeing is included almost every day and as a result, "there's very little free time in the destinations," Vincent said. "But I think that's a good thing because I don't want people to have to pay additional for an optional excursion when this is a 'must see' sight. There are so many 'must see' sights in South & Central America that it's already included."