On location in Ecuador for TTC Tour Week 2.0 with Contiki

This week 400+ travel advisors are taking part in simultaneous FAM trips around the world as TTC Tour Week 2.0 officially gets underway. Joining a group of travel advisors from Canada, the U.S. and Australia, Baxter Media is currently in Quito taking part in the adventure-packed Ecuador in a Week itinerary.

“This TTC Tour Week we are running 10 FAM trips across the world, and across our touring brands,” shared TTC Tour Brands’ Jenni Berg, director, strategic accounts. “Destinations featured include Peru, India, Egypt, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, and the United States.”

TTC Tour Brands’ Jenni Berg above Quito at the TelefériQo Cable Car

This is the second global TTC Tour Week, following the inaugural FAM initiative by TTC Tour Brands across 13 trips last March. While we’ll be learning all about Contiki on an adrenaline-filled journey that includes white-water rafting, zip lining and canyoning in Tena and Baños, other groups are off to discover Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Costsaver, some of the other touring brands within the portfolio.

“TTC Tour Week is one of the most exciting initiatives that we’ve launched as a company,” shared Levy Cabatingan, national account specialist for TTC Tour Brands, one of the hosts on the trip. “The idea came from wanting to give our agents a better way to experience our tours firsthand.” 

Part of the FAM trip participants include Jenni Berg/TTC Tour Brands; Ana Rita Francisco/Contiki; Catia Matos/Verona Travel; Ann Ruppenstein/Baxter Media and Audrey Andrade/TTC Tour Brands

Contiki trips are tailored to the 18–35 age range, but this FAM is open-age to allow for more travel advisors to get to know the brand and what sets it apart. Overall, Berg shared that the average age of Contiki travellers is 27 years old. 

“I am excited for agents who may have not been able to travel with Contiki before to see the true magic that it is. From the amazing accommodations and experiences that we include on our Latin America trips, to the food and culture of Ecuador, I have no doubt that this will be a trip to remember,” Berg shared. “My hope is that agents will leave their Contiki FAM with a renewed appreciation for the life-changing trips that Contiki delivers across the globe to young travellers. Also, I hope that they will see that Contiki offers so many unique trips and destinations.”

Ecuador in a Week’s trip manager Esteban Garces and TTC’s Jenni Berg 

The agents on our FAM range from new advisors with less than a year of experience to those who have been in the industry for over a decade. 

“The cool thing about this FAM is that the Ecuador in a Week itinerary is a trip agents can actually book for their clients,” added Berg.

So far our adventure included a pre-night stay in Quito, which was one of the first cities to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with Krakow. The group explored Quito’s old town, stood on both sides of the Ecuador at latitude 0°00, had lunch at a local brewery and saw the city from above at the top of El Panecillo hill featuring the Virgen de El Panecillo, both the world’s tallest aluminum statue and the world’s tallest image of a winged Virgin Mary, coming in even taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio. 

Travel advisors check out the views at the top of El Panecillo hill, which overlooks the city 

The first day of exploration ended with a multi-course tasting dinner at Claroscuro Gastro Bar to try traditional Ecuadorian dishes ranging from ceviche to poached eggs with plantain to a tortilla dish with slow roasted pork. The experience is usually an add-on for travellers on the itinerary, but was included for the agents.

One of the Canadian advisors on the trip is Megan Duncan of Edmonton-based Travel Gurus, who was first set to travel to Ecuador in 2021, but had to cancel the night before departure because she got COVID. 

Travel advisors on Contiki’s Ecuador in a Week FAM for #TTCTOURWEEK 2.0

“I do sell a fair amount of Contiki/TTC and have for years, but certainly not as much as some other products, and I am looking to grow my sales with these brands,” she shared. “This is my first Contiki experience so I’m looking forward to learning first-hand about what makes this product unique. I think I’m most looking forward to my first time setting foot in the Amazon rainforest as this has been a lifelong dream of mine. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with the jungle and I can’t wait to see it in real life.”

Also joining the Ecuadorian journey is Catia Matos, a travel consultant with the Bradford Ontario-based travel agency Verona Travel Ltd., who said she was drawn to the adventurous side of the itinerary. 

The group explored Quito’s old town, one of the first cities to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Krakow

“I’m looking forward to seeing Ecuador and experiencing all the activities, meeting new people and learning about Contiki,” said Matos, who already sells Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Contiki. “FAM trips help a lot –  if I like the tour I can sell it with no issues. I need to experience it to sell the product with confidence.”

This week while experiencing and understanding the product better, agents will also be sharing their adventures on social media using the hashtag #TTCTourWeek.

Catia Matos of Verona Travel Ltd. jumps from the northern to the southern hemisphere

Notably, Cabatingan pointed out that the first  TTC Tour Week back in March was a huge success. 

“The agents that went on the trip came back energized and full of stories, and even growing their sales because of that firsthand experience,” he noted. 

TTC’s Jenni Berg at the IInti-Ñan Museum at the equator in Ecuador

The schedule is designed for agents to get insights into Contiki’s unique selling points, such as authentic dining experiences, and TTC’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences, which are conscious travel experiences selected for their positive social or environmental impact on communities. 

“My favourite trips are always the ones that focus on nature, adventure and fun. Contiki Ecuador is sure to deliver on this,” added Berg. “I am excited to spend a few nights in the jungle, to go white-water rafting, canyoning and exploring, all while creating lasting friendships with a great group of travel agents.”