US-based escorted tour, small ship and river cruise operator, Tauck, is preparing to reignite its vision to increase brand awareness in Australia as part of a 5-year business strategy for the market. The vision includes an elevated presence and additional feet on the ground to service local trade partners.
David Clark, Country Manager Australia at Tauck tells LATTE the business case for Australia “is a topic of excitement for myself and the Tauck business as a whole”.
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Clark, who had held previous senior roles at The Walt Disney Company, Carnival, Helloworld and Journey Beyond, was recruited by Tauck in early 2020, just weeks before the World Health Organization declared the worsening COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on 11 March of that year.
“While COVID has certainly delayed our expansion from a team member and representative standpoint, our long-term plan for the Australian market hasn’t changed since we decided on moving from a GSA representative model to establishing our own Tauck presence here,” Clark said.
“We have plans for long-term growth here, to establish sincere, deep, positive relationships with our trade partners and our guests to ensure Tauck becomes part of the consideration for people who really want to explore and be moved by travel, to have their lives changed through travel.
Clark said what makes Tauck unique is its breadth and depth of product.
“You can visit so many destinations and through a variety of ways with Tauck. From a safari in Africa, to a river cruise in Portugal, to the Galapagos.
Tauck Directors average 10 years of service and come from 40 countries, collectively speaking a total of 42 languages. “Personal, caring service is the hallmark of our Tauck Directors and our handpicked local guides. Together, they provide an enriching, truly authentic travel experience.”
“Their expertise in local culture, customs, and traditions allows them to show you the world in ways you couldn’t experience on your own… making the difference between a trip, and the trip of a lifetime,” he said.
With international travel now just days away from reopening on 1 November after a 20-month hiatus, Clark says the company is readying to rekindle its mission in Australia.
“The goal now as we have resumed operations overseas, and hope to be able to welcome Australian guests soon, is to increase our footprint here in Australia through recruiting sales managers to work hand in hand with our key accounts and advisors interested in growing their Tauck business.”
Clark indicated the brand would start to steadily increase its media presence “to ensure we are clearly articulating the Tauck difference and build our brand awareness to guests in our demographic.”
“We believe, now more than ever, that our product is a perfect fit for the new world we will be living in, and that our guests will feel safe, looked after and inspired when travelling with us,” he said.