Contiki has launched a new campaign aimed at solo travellers – featuring eight TikTok influencers who’d never met before, but who have a combined audience of millions.
The project aims to show young Australian travellers that all you need for an epic global adventure is to ‘Just Bring You’.
Around 45 per cent of Aussie Contiki travellers book their trips solo so Contiki has created a campaign to explore what happened when eight solo travellers from different backgrounds, including three from Australia, joined a Contiki trip in Rome and spent a week together experiencing some of Italy’s best spots – documenting their journey as they moved from strangers to ‘mini family’ in just 10 days.
‘Just Bring You’, refers to both the simplicity – guests just need to turn up and will find their comfortable accommodation, handpicked experiences and convenient transport already arranged for them – and the travel company’s ethos that means every traveller is free to be their true and authentic self on a Contiki.
The diverse group included Australian comedian Tom Ford (@tomford19) and LGBTQIA+ activist Samantha Andrew (@samanthaandrew1), disability support worker Ben McIntosh (@benjmcintosh), Canadian body positivity advocate Clara Dao (@clara_dao) and comedian Peter Nguyen (@peternugget), USA-based singer-songwriters Adanna Duru (@adannaduru) and Brooke Alexx (@brookealexx) along with British vegan food creator and Masterchef contestant Jordan Billham (@thenottychef).
The campaign is running across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Tinder, encouraging solo travellers to ‘Just Bring You’ for their ultimate travel adventure.
“It was a bit of a no-brainer decision for me to come on a Contiki trip because I’m recently single”, explains Australian TikToker, Samantha Andrew.
“When you travel with mates or when you travel with a partner, you know them very well, you have the same kind of routine.
“It’s nice to kind of branch out and be around people who travel differently to me, who eat differently to me, who explore differently to me – that’s been really, really cool.”
The eight travellers, who began as complete strangers, can be seen singing in harmony on a Florence city walking tour, performing impromptu dances on the streets of Rome, creating elaborate secret handshakes in front of the Trevi fountain, skipping the queue at the Colosseum (thanks to Contiki).
“I am the laziest person alive, so being able to just show up somewhere, everything is taken care of, and I’m just along for the ride?” disability support worker, Ben McIntosh, said.
“That is the perfect example of how to do solo travel, [when] you just need to bring yourself”.
Toni Ambler, managing director, TTC Tour Brands said Contiki is not only a travel company but also a social phenomenon.
“Contiki brings people from all different backgrounds together and creates ‘mini-families’ on its trips,’ Ambler siad.
“The magic of our trips is that if travellers join solo, like around 45 per cent of our Aussie travellers do, they don’t need to know anyone before the trip.
“Our trips are creatively designed to construct group dynamics fast so solo travellers won’t feel solo for very long.
“Now more than ever, we want our travellers to know that they can be their true, authentic selves on a Contiki and have the time of their lives.
“And with accommodation, unforgettable experiences and transport all sorted for you, they just need to show up – we’ll do the rest.”
Agents can utilise this messaging when booking trips for their Contiki clients, highlighting how the brand is perfect for solo 18-35s to book and have all travel arrangements taken care of, leaving them to focus on making lifelong memories and social connections.
Also, with the Feefo score of 4.7/5 from Aussie Contiki solo travellers to Europe in 2023, agents can be comfortable that Contiki is the best choice for their clients.
