Jamie Biesiada
LAS VEGAS — Think about offseason and winter travel and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
That's the message Ignacio Maza, a senior advisor for Signature Travel Network, has for travel advisors.
I caught up with Maza last week during Signature's annual conference, held at the Venetian Resort here.
Go against the grain of the usual seasons to visit destinations, Maza said.
"I think that trend is just going to continue to grow, so you need to educate yourself," he said. "What is a product that is available in the offseason? Because there's more offseason product than there has been, ever."
If a client expresses a desire to visit the Amalfi Coast in December but believes all the hotels are closed, Maza said, inform them that's not the case. The same thing is true in many other popular destinations, like Sicily, Mallorca and Algarve.
"There are places that are open offseason," he said. "The season used to close in early October, but now it runs until December. Thanksgiving in Sicily? Fine, we can do that."
Late fall and winter Mediterranean cruising is also increasingly an option, according to Maza. He said cruise lines like Viking, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are offering sailings this year.
Normally, their ships head to the Caribbean for the winter, but the cruise lines are offering Mediterranean itineraries this year.
Offseason to beat overtourism
Offseason travel is also appealing to clients wary of overtourism.
The last time Maza visited Japan, a trending destination for many, it was in February.
"Is it going to be cold? Yes," he said. "Are you going to freeze in the temples? Yes. But am I going to have the Golden Temple in front of me with no crowds? Is that worth it? It is absolutely worth it."
Maza also wants advisors to send their clients to places that are outside of the most popular attractions in destinations.
For instance, on a February trip to Rome, Maza said certain attractions like the Vatican and the Trevi Fountain were busy. But he found himself alone with his guide on the Via Appia, or the Appian Way, once one of the most important roads to the Roman Republic. He called it an "incredible moment" when a shepherd walked by with his flock of sheep.
"You still can find the magic," he said. "You just have to work a little harder to find it."
Some more examples: Arranging private experiences at palaces in Rome or visiting popular attractions at off times. Maza pointed to the Prado Museum in Madrid, which tends to be "mobbed" first thing in the morning. But around 3:30 p.m. or 4 p.m., Maza said, the crowds exit, resulting in a much less crowded experience.
"You just have to work a little harder, and you have to work with your partners who can give you all this intelligence," he said, pointing to destination management companies, in particular, as good resources.