Australian Enterprise Awards 2019

42 APAC / Australian Enterprise Awards 2019 , Bentours Scandinavian Travel Specialists of the Year 2019: Bentours Feb19148 Bentours offers unique travel products and destinations to a wide variety of clients. As part of our overview of a selection of the winners from this year’s Australian Enterprise Awards we profile the firm to find out more and learn the secrets behind its success. For over 40 years, Bentours has been proudly operating innovative tours and cruises to some of the world’s most renowned, and spectacular destinations. Bentours is part of the global Cox and Kings Group, the world’s longest established travel company with over 260 years’ experience, With a reputation as Australia’s preferred Scandinavian travel specialists, Bentours’ No.1 destination is Norway with its stunning array of UNESCO fjords, coastal cruises and Northern Lights. Rounding out Scandinavia are the quintessential destinations of Sweden and Denmark. Within the same region the Nordic countries of Finland and Iceland are also a staple within the Bentours portfolio. Other key destinations that Bentours also offers are an array of touring options that are in; Svalbard, Greenland, Faroe Islands, England, Scotland, Shetland and the Orkney Islands, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Canadian High Arctic, and Antarctica. From light adventure tours to even relaxed coach, cruises and rail journeys, Bentours is very proud to offer a travel package for everyone. Primarily as a B2B business thats based in South Melbourne, they provide their growing wholesale travel / trade partners and customer base, with impeccable service through their specialist teams by using our vast experience and in-depth knowledge of unconventional destinations to deliver happy and unique journeys. Bentours also offers remarkable expedition cruises to polar regions on a variety of specialist vessels. The company works very closely with Hurtigruten as GSA in Australia and New Zealand, who are world leaders in exploration travel, with their stunning fleet of refurbished and new hybrid vessels sailing primarily off the Norway coast, the Arctic and Antarctica. Looking back, the last 12 months has seen a significant increase in the demand for niche and bucket list destinations in countries such as: Norway, Iceland, Finland, Antarctica, Svalbard. Bentours has, in seeking to provide these niche and bucket list holidays for all of its customers, swiftly aligned with these preferences and working with its extensive networks around the world to create amazing and memorable holidays. There is also a whetted appetite for small group travel of which Bentours is very proud to have launched a summer and winter escorted small group series. The winter and Northern Lights season between October to March features the tours ‘Follow the Lights’ and ‘Chase the Lights’ group tours focusing on Norway and Finland’s unique travel experiences, which has been proven to be a runaway success. As Bentours continues to build upon its firms successes, the credibility of the brand continues to drive a very positive work culture and brand loyalty within the organisation. The enthusiasm of the firm’s staff is a trait that the company continually seeks in any new recruit, as these key traits are integrated and displayed by the passion to deliver exceptional customer experience and strive to be a leader in the industry. Ryan Bennett (Brand Leader - Bentours, for 4yrs), is excited about the future for Bentours, with the firm set to continue to enhance its unique experiences for its customers and the market, ensuring continued phenomenal success in the future. Company: Bentours Contact: Ryan Bennett