Avanti, Belize Tourism Board Partner to Offer New Experiences, Selling Tools
by Briana Bonfiglio
The world's only jaguar reserve is in Belize. Photo: Avanti Destinations
Avanti Destinations and Belize Tourism Board are partnering to offer new FIT experiences in the increasingly popular destination, along with selling tools for travel advisors.
Avanti, a tour operator that sells only to advisors and not directly to consumers, has added new itineraries, hotels, and resorts to its Belize portfolio, and released a new e-brochure, webinar, and booking guide for advisors to refer to when selling Belize to clients.
“Belize consistently ranks among our top sellers in Latin America,” said Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations. “The combination of palm-fringed beaches, calm Caribbean waters protected by the second largest living barrier reef in the world, ancient Maya temples in the rainforest, soft adventure activities, such as ziplining and cave tubing, and fascinating ethnic groups like the Garifuna, makes Belize a warm weather getaway with something for every kind of FIT client.”
New experiences in Belize
The addition of two new customizable vacation options, nine new hotels and resorts, and seven new tours and experiences brings Avanti’s Belize portfolio up to offering four customizable FIT itineraries, 42 hotels, lodges, and resorts, and 35 tours and experiences.
“Adding to the appeal of Belize is that the US dollar is widely accepted and, as a former British territory [British Honduras], English is one of the major languages,” Barry added. “Most of our Belize bookings combine the rainforest with the beach and reef. The average duration of a Belize stay is seven days, combining time on the beach with time exploring Maya sites, waterfalls, wildlife and caves in the rainforest.”
The new suggested trip packages, which clients and their advisors can customize, include “Cayo & the Coast,” an eight-day vacation in Placencia, San Ignacio and other areas in the Cayo District. The trip features:
- A new seven-hour cave tubing and zipline tour with lunch
- A new shared all-day tour of Rangana Caye, a private tropical island
- A private tour of Belize’s largest Mayan temple, the 75-acre Caracol
- Visit to the ancient Maya city of Xunantunich
- Wildlife spotting and beach time
The other new trip package is the nine-day “Undiscovered Belize,” which focuses on getting to know the Maya and Garifuna cultures. It includes:
- A new seven-hour cave tubing and zipline tour with lunch
- A new four-hour shared Garifuna cultural and culinary experience with lunch
- Jaguar sanctuary and chocolate tour
- Group tours of Maya temples
- Cave swimming
- Half-day of snorkeling to see marine life and tour Belize’s famous coral reefs
Both new trip packages include private transfers and choice of accommodations.
Other day tours that can be added to trips include the new jungle pontoon boat waterfall adventure tour, the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve tour, and the Living Maya Experience and Nim li Punit tour.
Resources for travel advisors
Travel advisors can join a webinar on Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PT hosted by Avanti and Belize Tourism Board that will review all these new offerings and how to book them.
Avanti and Belize Tourism Board have also released a new 32-page e-book, “Belize: Where Adventure Meets Paradise,” which is available on Avanti’s advisor portal at flipsnack.com/779977E569B/belize-ebrochure/full-view.html.
Advisors can also access a 25-minute video recording of a Belize booking guide on Avanti’s advisor portal at content.avantidestinations.com/videos/Ep170-Belize_Beyond_Ambergis.mp4.
