Trafalgar’s Trailblazers program gives advisors first look at new tours – apply now!

Trafalgar is giving travel advisors an opportunity to experience new itineraries before they go on sale to the public with the launch of “Trafalgar Trailblazers,” a new advocacy and professional development program.

Announced this week, the initiative is designed to strengthen collaboration with the trade by inviting select travel advisors to participate in exclusive familiarization (FAM) trips on newly-developed itineraries before their inaugural departures.

Advisors will provide feedback to help Trafalgar refine the guest experience while gaining firsthand product knowledge they can use to better sell the tours.

The program debuts with two Trafalgar Small Group Tours departing this fall.

“Travel advisors do more than sell vacations; they understand what inspires today’s travellers and what turns a great trip into a lifelong memory,” said Melissa DaSilva, Deputy CEO and chief sales officer of TTC Tour Brands, in a press release.

“That’s why we created Trafalgar Trailblazers. We want our advisor partners involved earlier in the process, bringing their perspectives to new itineraries before they launch. It’s an investment in collaboration that ultimately creates stronger experiences for our guests and gives advisors an authentic story they can confidently share.”

Two inaugural FAM opportunities

Travel advisors selected for the first Trailblazers cohort will receive a complimentary single room and airfare on one of two seven-day Small Group Tours.

The first, Best of China (with Yangtze Cruise), departs Oct. 24-30, 2026, taking advisors through Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. Highlights include visits to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors, as well as a Tai Chi session, a Shanghai acrobatics performance and an evening along the Bund.

The itinerary also features a Be My Guest lunch with a local family in Beijing's historic hutongs and a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where guests learn about conservation efforts to protect the endangered species.

The second itinerary, San Sebastián & Beyond, departs Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 2026, and explores destinations across France and Spain. Stops include the Saint-Émilion wine region, Dune du Pilat, sections of the Camino del Norte and San Sebastián's famous pintxos scene.

The tour also includes a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience in Gernika focused on Basque heritage and a Be My Guest lunch with a local fishing family in Getaria.

More than a one-time initiative

Trafalgar said Trailblazers is intended to become an ongoing program that will expand alongside future product launches, beginning with Small Group Tours and eventually extending to other offerings, including the company's upcoming river cruise product.

“This is just the beginning for Trafalgar Trailblazers,” said DaSilva. “We’re continuing to invest in new and exciting products that guests want to book and advisors can confidently sell, from Small Group Tours to river cruises with much more on the horizon. This program will grow right alongside that innovation giving advisors an inside look into it all.”

Applications are open through July 31, 2026, with successful applicants to be notified during the week of Aug. 10.

Trafalgar says applicants will be evaluated on their ability to advocate for the brand, provide meaningful product feedback and share their experiences with fellow advisors and clients.

Advisors with an active social media presence are encouraged to participate.

Click here to apply.

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