Select Traveler asked these group travel planners “how do you welcome singles on your trips?” Here are their responses.
Angela Dimopoulos, Director of Sales and Marketing
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
“I choose a few trips each year that offer no single-supplement pricing. This makes it more affordable to our solo travelers and keeps them interested.”
Andy English, Director of Alumni Relations
Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa
“The key is making single travelers feel that they are part of the group and not on the trip alone. We charge a minimal fee for single occupancy, which encourages more single travelers. In addition, we have two meetings prior to the excursion so that all travelers can get to know one another on a personal level and feel more connected as a group.”
Frances Stanfield, Sr. Business Manager
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
“We receive many requests to add trips to the program that have no single-supplement fee. I make it my mission to work with a partner that will waive this fee on one or two popular destinations each year. Additionally, whenever possible, we send an Emory representative to host our trips. This sometimes means that if we have a single traveler, we become their travel companion. This is really the most rewarding part of any trip I host. We both return home with a brand-new friend.”
Linda Mattingly, Board Secretary and Assistant Vice President
Alliance Bank, Sulphur Springs, Texas
“It’s hard to get single people to travel because they always have to pay an up charge. When they do travel with me, I include them in everything and make sure they are not by themselves. Usually the group will take them under their wing, and I don’t have to worry about it.”
Nannette Schneider, Executive Director
Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce, Wapakoneta, Ohio
“The chamber offers discounts for single as well as double occupancy. We often have single travelers ask how many other single travelers there are. It is common for these folks to pal around together. It is nice for single travelers to also know that they can take the trip solo and still feel part of a group.”
