Collette has best year in 107-year history, shares top trends

Collette’s surge in growth continued in 2024 as the company reports “its best year ever,” surpassing 2023.

Travellers are eager to explore the world in destinations like Africa, Greece, and Argentina and with increased interest in small-group travel, the tour operator said in a press release. 

Small-group Explorations tours (with a maximum group size of 24) are Collette’s most popular travel style, the company added. 

“Small group Explorations tours have seen incredible growth over the past four years,” said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, president and CEO of Collette, in a press release. “Not only do we want to support this growth, but we want to propel it to an entirely new level. We’ve been designing these small group journeys since 2008, allowing travellers to experience destinations in ways that aren’t always possible with larger groups. These aren’t just our Classic tours with a limit on group size. All Explorations itineraries are tailored specifically to take advantage of the lower number of travellers. This means more intimate excursions, unique accommodations, and a variety of local transportation modes reflection of each region.” 

Collette says one of the “fastest-growing” new tours is “Namibia and South Africa: Epic Landscapes and Wildlife,” which explores Etosha and Kruger National Parks.

“Collette understands the effects that overtourism has on locals in over loved destinations,” Leibl-Cote stated. “Travellers are always going to want to see the top attractions in each region, but not every tour has to focus on them, which our design team takes this into account when building new itineraries.”

Hidden gems, like Crete, have risen towards the top of travellers’ wish lists over the past year, the company says.

The “Gems of Greece” tour showcases the islands of Naxos and Crete starting in 2025.

“Travellers are flocking to explore South America with Collette’s Explorations tours,” stated Jeff Roy, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at Collette. “Collette’s ‘Essential South America” gives travellers a taste of all the region has to offer. Mendoza is the heart of Argentina’s wine country and many people don’t know it’s actually a desert region.”

“Essential South America” guides travellers from Santiago, Chile, through Argentina’s wine regions, to Buenos Aires.

Collette is also heading to Albania for the first time ever in 2025 with its new “The Balkans: From Coastal Croatia to Legendary Greece” tour.

“Albania is one of Europe’s fastest-growing travel destinations,” stated Leibl-Cote. “Over the past few decades, more travellers have shown increased interest in exploring the region’s breathtaking mountain ranges and scenic coastlines. This tour not only enables them to do that, but also offers the opportunity to learn about Albanian folklore, centered around heroism, mountain spirits, and the legendary “Shqiponja,” a powerful eagle symbolizing freedom.”

Collette takes advantage of the smaller-maximum group size of 24 travellers with tailored experiences like a home-hosted dinner in Sarajevo, a private boat tour through the unique scenery of Boka Bay, and an overnight stay at a farm in Karanac.

The tour’s impact moment comes at the Sarajevo Tunnel of Hope, where travellers meet a Sarajevo Siege survivor.

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