eosvisions

Overview

Affinity travel refers to a unique travel program that serves a niche interest and brings together like-minded people in exclusive, interactive, educational and intimate environments. Frequently related to alumni associations, museums and other cultural or natural institutions, corporate incentives, social clubs or other types of special interest groups, participants share a common interest, hobby, lifestyle or brand affiliation, and seek strong group cohesion and lasting relationships.

Eos Visions is ideally equipped to create, design and implement tailor-made international travel experiences for a range of special interests and affinity travel programs in East Africa. We work with planners, administrators, institution leaders and members on the educational content, identify and liaise with in-country partners, and ensure an impeccable delivery of all on-the-ground logistics and services. This combination of knowledge, experience, connections, research capacity and logistical expertise enables us to deliver unique affinity travel programs that reflect our customers’ personality and mission, and that fit their interests and budgets.

In the past, we have hosted corporate incentives (Dunn Bros), delegations with a nature interest (Siegfried Loose Ichthyology, Victoria Bug Zoo), religious delegations (Amahoro Africa, Community of Grace Lutheran Church, World Union of Jesuit Alumni) and delegations with a humanitarian focus (Echo Foundation, Foundation for Global Leadership, Human Help Network). Among others, Academic Travel Abroad, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Global Adrenaline are regular US-based partners of ours.

Subject interests for East Africa can be very diverse. Regular ideas relate to general development, humanitarian issues, fair trade, gender, HIV/AIDS, microfinance, religion, special conservation efforts and nature interests, sports, media or photography. But we are happy to explore any subject interest that our customers might have.

Features

Every affinity travel host has a different approach and philosophy when it comes to its international travel experience. As a comprehensive destination manager, we can handle all on-the-ground services that might be desirable and also advise on the educational content of the programs. Specific features include:

Travel logistics:

• Suitable 3, 4 and 5 star hotels with special negotiated group rates
• Up-to-date selection of the best local restaurants
• High-quality transport providers offering anything from comfortable SUVs and minivans to modern buses and coaches
• Appropriate conference facilities, and efficient organization and management of events
• Mix of knowledgeable and experienced local and international multilingual guides and tour managers
• Efficient back-office support also after normal business hours
• Collaboration with leading US-based operators like Academic Travel Abroad, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Global Adrenaline to provide customized airline services as well as additional international travel assistance such as foreign visa processing or insurance services

Educational content:

• In-house policy knowledge and research in a range of fields
• Strategic local alliances – ranging from top government authorities to academic leaders, embassies, development agencies, non-profit organizations and local businesses – willing to interact with our customers through guest presentations, meetings, lectures and site visits

Cultural activities:

• All tourism highlights that East Africa has to offer, including safaris, gorilla treks, cultural activities and events, and historical site visits
• Special theme-based city introductions, e.g. along the lines of history and contemporary politics
• Special theme-based excursions looking at development issues (e.g. in Rwanda’s Millennium Village), income-generating projects (e.g. SIDAREC in Kenya’s Kibera slum), challenges of historically marginalized people (e.g. the Batwa in Rwanda), gender mainstreaming, or coffee, tea, sugar and palm oil harvesting and processing
• Pre- or post-trip extensions

Case studies

Dunn Bros Coffee – Coffee Sellers Safari:
Dunn Bros Coffee is a US-based franchise of coffeehouses that is proud that its coffee is still roasted in small drum roasters in all of its traditional stores. In November 2010, we co-hosted a corporate incentive trip to Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya to offer Dunn Bros Coffee’s store managers the opportunity to visit coffee plantations, and meet with farmers, producers and policymakers. Participants enjoyed a variety of coffee-related activities with partners such as Bourbon Coffee, SPREAD and OCIR-Café in Rwanda, BAP and the producers of Bwayi in Burundi, and Dorman’s and the producers of Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Yadini, Ruiru and Kiambu in Kenya. A range of cultural and fun experiences including a safari in the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve further contributed to strong group cohesion and the creation of lasting relationships.

Siegfried Loose – Ichthyology at Lake Tanganyika:
Siegfried Loose is one the world’s most renowned cichlid experts. He is frequently invited to speak at events like the Tanganyika Cichlid Forum based in Germany, and he has published books and DVDs on the subject. Since 2007, he regularly visits Lake Tanganyika with groups of friends and supporters in order to explore the rich life of this stunningly beautiful freshwater lake, and film and photograph new material. In 2009, we started hosting these delegations in Burundi, DR Congo and Tanzania. Apart from the fish life in Lake Tanganyika, Siegfried takes his groups also to nearby national parks to see eastern lowland gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega (DR Congo) or chimpanzees in Gombe Stream (Tanzania).