Sep 13, 2007
GAP Adventures has opened its fifth "concept store," this time in Greenwich Village, New York
I'm unaware of any tour operator that still sells its products out of a retail, bricks-and-mortar store. But in an unusual move, GAP Adventures, of Toronto, now operates a total of five "concept stores" -- in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Melbourne, and now New York City (364 Avenue of the Americas, tel. 888/800-4100 or 212/228-6655, open seven days a week). The opening (on August 7) of the New York store is surely significant and unusual enough to merit attention. Although they very definitely are stores, with sales attendants, the GAP Concepts are also a bit like lounges at which, from chairs scattered around, you view websites accessed on free-of-charge computers, watch videos and slide shows, study brochures, attend special evening events, and generally relax while thinking about travel.
Because I've been impressed by Canada's GAP Adventures, which operates innovative programs to unusual destinations at a moderate price (and has attracted a heavy American clientele), I've agreed to be a totally-unpaid speaker at their New York store from 2-3pm on Saturday, September 15. My topic: adventure travel. And I'm looking forward to experiencing this new retail concept which, if successful, will undoubtedly be copied by other tour operators. The obvious purpose of the stores is to promote GAP's fairly novel approach to travel which, among other things, makes use of family lodgings and local transportation in order to heighten the authenticity of the travel experience. This is a new kind of commercial tour operator.
Please stop by if you're in the area, and I'll be happy to hear your reactions to GAP.
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Labels: tour companies
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