The chance to visit fascinating, bucket list destinations on overseas famils.
The good folk at Phil Hoffmann Travel (PHT) are no different. Last year, however, even they couldn’t believe their luck.
“Every year PHT have a top achiever trip. It is our biggest reward for our team and is highly coveted and highly contested,” says Michelle Ashcroft, Chief Operating Officer at Phil Hoffmann Travel.
“When we do a top achiever trip we want it to be aspirational, we want it to have a huge ‘wow’ factor and we want it to be with a supplier partner who matches our core values.
“When we announced at our end of financial year party that the winner’s trip was with Tauck, the room literally erupted.
“Of all the top achiever trips we’ve done – and there’s been 16 years’ worth now – a trip with Tauck was the absolute pinnacle of what we’ve been able to offer to date.”
Michelle joined the 16 lucky winners on the 10-day ‘Three Rivers’ cruise aboard Tauck’s ms Joy, travelling along the major waterways of Europe.
“River cruising is probably my favourite way to travel because you’re not dealing with the masses – you’re dealing with something boutique. You also have all the benefits of cruising with only unpacking once and all the luxury that goes with a Tauck tour.
“Every time you go on a river cruise you see something different. For me, it’s all about the cobblestone streets, the cycling, meandering through villages and learning about the local history.”
THE TAUCK DIFFERENCE
Like many in the travel industry, Michelle has been lucky enough to sample a wide range of cruise products and believes there’s a place for each and every one.
“However, Tauck for me is the epitome of it all,” she says. “Getting on board, I definitely felt individual and special.
“The whole era of slow travel is upon us, where rather than a checklist where you’re ticking things off, travel now is actually about how you’re made to feel.
“As soon as I got onto that ship, the smiles were genuine and I was given a glass of Veuve champagne, which at that point is when I turned around and said, ‘this is the place for me’.”
Along with her agent companions Michelle was impressed with the stunning hardware on display aboard Tauck’s ms Joy, while the cuisine was next level.
“Australians have high expectations when they travel and we want really great food. With Tauck, everything was fresh, it was made to order and it was a fine dining experience every night.”
The trip far exceeded Michelle’s expectations as to what a trip with Tauck delivers, leaving her with one final thought as she headed home.
“We’re very spoiled in the industry that we’re in and we’re pretty hard to impress these days.
“The biggest compliment I could give Tauck is that when I got off the ship, I thought ‘this is what I’d love my parents to experience’.”
GOING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Tauck prides itself on taking guests where other cruise lines don’t go, offering a range of exclusive activities and private visits to further enhance the travel experience.
“We met a German family who had been performing and bringing people into their home and their village for generations. They were talking about their life through transitions of war, what Germany looks like now and what the challenges are.
“Then there were the surprises. We were sitting on the bus one day and our tour director came along and gave each of us €20 to go and buy an ice-cream at the cute local store.”
The small size of the travelling group was another bonus, offering more time to linger longer in each destination.
“It actually felt like you were traveling with a group of friends, talking and learning as you went along. And rather than ticking off a checklist, you were actually immersing yourself in the destination.”
TAUCK’S SEAMLESS SERVICE
Phil Hoffmann have been selling Tauck for more than 20 years, way before other travel agencies got on board. That history has forged strong bonds.
“The reason we did it back then is because once you got a client on Tauck, you knew you had the client for life.
“Tauck has been a true partner, going above the ‘what’s in it for both of us’ perspective, to ‘how can we create a client experience that’s going to keep them coming back for years to come?.”
Clients also benefit from the ease with which Tauck goes about its business.
“Tauck make our job really easy, which in turn makes us look great to our clients,” Michelle says.
“Consultants have more information flooding their inboxes than ever before and it can get out of control for them.
“With Tauck, we’re never chasing documents or travel information. They provide clear communication and documents arrive when they tell you they will.
“They’ve been around for more than 100 years so they clearly know what they’re doing.”
SO WHAT NEXT?
While Tauck have been operating for more than a century, they show no sign of resting on their laurels, constantly updating and widening their product range.
The company recently unveiled details of their new brand, Roam by Tauck, designed specifically for travellers in their 40s and 50s.
The new brand, Tauck’s first in more than a decade, offers small-group journeys averaging just 16 guests per departure and features an engaging balance of flexibility, active adventures and signature experiences.
Roam by Tauck will debut 12 itineraries across six continents by 2027, with at least five journeys set to launch in 2026.
“What I love about Tauck is that even though they’ve been around for 100 years, they continue to innovate,” comments Michelle.
“They’ve got their Bridges range for families, travel styles that suit everybody and now the new ROAM range, which I think is fantastic. No one else is doing it.”
