Luxury Australian Travel Trade E-News
By: Lisa Maroun
September 19, 2024

Railbookers President & CEO, Frank Marini visited Australia this week to share updates with the travel trade and media partners about the company’s impressive growth and its focus on luxury travel.

The rail company has witnessed exceptional results from the Australian market, with bookings up by 55% this year, and already tracking 53% ahead for the next.

Marini emphasised the company’s success in the luxury segment, noting that Aussies are increasingly opting for high-end rail experiences.

“It’s going gangbusters – just crazy!” he said.

The shift towards luxury travel is driven by Australians seeking unique, life-enhancing experiences. Whether for a special occasion or to indulge, luxury rail journeys are becoming more popular.

Within its luxury stable, Railbookers has global rail partnerships with Rocky Mountaineer, Venice Simplon Orient-Express, Journey Beyond, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, Rovos Rail, Maharajas Express, Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental Express, the soon-to-launch La Dolce Vita Orient Express, and others.

Marini described Railbookers’ unique position in the travel industry, saying, “We’re not a rail ticketer, an online travel agent, or a group operator. We offer fully customisable, independent rail experiences.”

This flexibility, along with partnerships with national and luxury rail systems worldwide, has made Railbookers a ‘go-to’ for travel advisors and their clients.

Marini also shared insights into the profile of Railbookers’ Australian customers, highlighting that they typically embark on extended trips, averaging 11.4 nights, with a spend of around $8,400 per booking. Almost 70% of these journeys are part of larger travel experiences, such as river cruises.

He also emphasised the increasing demand for last-minute luxury bookings, with 27% of Australian travellers booking and departing within 90 days, primarily for destinations like Switzerland, Italy, and Canada.

“That is crazy to me, but we love and excel at last-minute bookings,” he said.

In addition to their success in Australia, Railbookers is a global company, operating remotely with staff across six countries and 33 states. Marini credited this remote structure with allowing the company to scale rapidly, saying, “We wouldn’t be able to grow at this pace without this set-up.”

Australia is the rail company’s second fastest growing region, and according to Marini, they can’t hire fast enough here.

As demand for luxury rail continues to rise, Railbookers says it remains committed to providing seamless, customised journeys.

“Australians are embracing luxury rail travel like never before, and we’re here to make those experiences unforgettable,” Frank Marini said.

Marini concluded by expressing his appreciation to the Australian travel industry, saying, “We just can’t thank our travel partners enough for their support.”

Read the full article here.