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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
G
ROUP
T
RAVEL
By Scott Allen
THE
INS OUTS
OF
By its pure def inition,
aff inity1 “is a word used in a
variety of f ields, usually to
indicate some kind of
preference, relationship, or a
potential or actual closeness
between two entities.” In group
travel
we
deal
with
relationships when discussing
aff inity groups. By example
wedding-away groups, pil-
grimage travellers, study and
leadership tours all fall under
the umbrella of aff inity travel.
The most striking difference
between these two categories
is that aff inity travel is not
determined by what the
destination is but more by
what the theme of the travel
may be. In this regard a group
of travellers, even if they do
not know one another, may be
classif ied as an aff inity group
if they are departing for a
common interest or purpose.
1 Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia
M
ANY
PROFESS IONAL
TRAVEL
agents have a
fear of groups not because they
do not want to handle this type
of travel but because they do
not understand the basics of
what makes groups work. This
is not unusual as there are not
a lot of opportunities to learn
about general group travel but
many about a specif ic supplier’s
product. Unfortunately what
works for one supplier is not
universal to all and the rules,
terms and conditions and
potential penalties vary greatly
from one to another. Despite
the wide variety of tours and
interests, all groups fall into
one of two categories—aff inity
and non-aff inity travel.
and
THE INS AND OUTS OF GROUP TRAVEL