Top Deck now top notch
The days when a budget tour of Europe for young travellers meant long days in uncomfortable buses which often broke down – and nights spent in cheap hotels – are over, according to Lance Batty, director of global sales and strategy of Top Deck, the travel specialist for 18-36-year-olds.
Flight Centre’s Graham Turner helped to launch the operation in 1973 – then known as Argus Persicus Travel (it’s a type of Australian cattle tick) with a tour of Morocco which was advertised in an Earls Court pub and quickly filled.
Turner is still a small shareholder in the company whose biggest shareholder since 2004 is Australian Pacific Touring (APT).
Batty said Top Deck is now “a business class product for young travellersâ€.
Clients travel in mid-size groups, in luxury coaches and stay in good quality hotels, he says. In Europe, camping and hostel accommodation options are still offered along with hotels.
“Top Deck travellers 10 years ago were young first timers needing support but today they tend to be time-poor, cash-rich professionals who know what they want to see but want someone else to do all the hard work,†said Batty.
“More and more our customers are interested in art, history and culture so activity options such as the Russian ballet are in the mix.â€
Top Deck globally had its best year ever in 2010, although Batty says that selling into Europe was much easier than selling into Australia and New Zealand because of the strength of the Aussie and Kiwi dollars against the Euro.
Ian Jarrett
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