Travel & Tourism Awards 2021

Page 16 www.lux-review.com LUX 2021 Travel & Tourism Awards Inspiration Cruises & Tours is a travel management company that specializes in offering group travel experiences for Christian groups such as ministries and churches since 1981. Every member of their staff is a seasoned travel advisor delivering exceptional travel experiences for Christian travelers. They partner with religious institutions, preparing truly unique tours and cruises that guide clients through professionally developed itineraries. They care deeply about each person’s travel experience, facilitating them to ‘meet God in a unique setting’. Having been in operation for over 40 years now, Inspiration has accumulated an enviable width and breadth of experience in leisure and tourism. They are also a pioneering voice behind Christian specific travel groups, a part of the sector that has seen exponential growth since. Inspiration has a stellar reputation for first- class customer service in all aspects of their operation. They now have more than 600 partners they have worked with over the years, earning the trust of several influential Christian leaders. Being owned by believers of the faith, they connect with each of their guests to bring them an exceptional experience. Furthermore, they have achieved a renowned level of excellence that has made Inspiration Cruises & Tours a household name in faith-focused travel and with other industry leaders. They have had more than 208,000 passengers travel with them since their founding and offer multiple destinations, such as Alaska, the Caribbean, Canada, New England, the Mediterranean, Europe and Israel. Their business model has been built on the principle of offering a faith-enriching experience to its guests. To serve their clients, Inspiration utilises a set of five core values. The first is meticulousness – seeking to ensure that every aspect of their operation is carefully planned, priding themselves on managing every aspect down to the most minute detail. Inspiration recognises that these small things are what can make a successful trip. Secondly, they A company offering a multitude of faith-focused travel opportunities to a worldwide clientele, Inspiration Cruises & Tours is committed to delivering a first-class experience. Dec20327 Inspiration Cruises & Tours Best Christian Travel Management Company 2021 provide a caring atmosphere for guests to enjoy from the moment they board. Thirdly, they work to provide a knowledgeable service; in this way, they provide guests with learning resources during tours that enhance a person’s understanding of Christianity and the places Inspiration visits. The penultimate value they hold to is one of first-class service, in customer service, accommodations, itineraries, and service of the faith. Lastly, Inspiration prizes dedication to maintaining the rest of their values. These principles guide every business decision that the company makes, allowing them to continue innovating Christian travel as a thriving part of the tourism market. Inspiration uses only the finest in ships and venues when designing a new tour or cruise package, believing that they offer ‘more than a vacation’ by offering award-winning and world class voyages. This attention to detail has earned Inspiration the Lux Tourism Award, a Travel Weekly Magellan Award, and a Centurion Award. Being a faith-based organisation, they have been successful in assembling a team that shares their commitment, values and ethics, but also one that loves travel. Between them, the staff behind Inspiration’s success combine broad worldviews, diverse experience, and a passionate drive to be the best. All these things in tandem make for a cohesive and productive internal environment that inspires the company onward to ever-greater things. Over the course of 2020, Inspiration was one of many businesses to encounter significant challenges presented by the pandemic. However, they embraced this as an opportunity to pivot some elements of their business model and adapt accordingly, maintaining their dedication to creating exceptional Christian experiences even when travel was out of the question. They accomplished this with live webcam feeds, songs, videos, photos, and virtual tours offered through their online platform, reaching clients remotely. Inspiration is optimistic for the future, as in response to a survey they posted during this time, more than 8000 Christian travellers responded that they are eager to travel again soon. Their clients will return to an expanded list of destinations, too; Inspiration is exited to begin offering guided tours of America as well as several other locations in the US and overseas. Company: Inspiration Cruises & Tours Contact: Stephanie Smith Website: www.inspirationcruises.com