BestPrice Travel Introduces Flexible Group Tours, Changing the Way Australians Explore Vietnam

SYDNEY, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BestPrice Travel is transforming the Vietnam travel experience for Australians with its Flexible Group Tours, combining affordability with personalization. This innovative model breaks away from rigid itineraries, allowing travelers to explore Vietnam's vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes without overspending.

As international travel rebounds, Vietnam is becoming a top choice for Australian adventurers. More travelers seek budget-friendly yet tailored experiences, and Flexible Group Tours answer that need—offering curated itineraries with the freedom of solo travel while sharing costs with like-minded explorers.

The Rise of Personalized Travel

According to a Skyscanner Travel Report, 71% of Australians now prefer customized itineraries over traditional group tours, signaling a shift toward more immersive, cost-effective travel. Vietnam is an ideal destination for this trend, offering rich cultural experiences, diverse landscapes, and great value for money.

Hien Kim, General Manager at BestPrice Travel, highlights this shift:

"Australians are our largest market, and we've seen a growing demand for personalized experiences. However, fully private tours can be expensive. That's why we launched Flexible Group Tours—to make customized travel more affordable."

Since their launch, these tours have gained rapid popularity, with over 2,000 bookings in 2024 alone.

Why Aussies Are Choosing Flexible Group Tours

More Travel, Less Cost

By sharing transport, accommodations, and some activities, travelers can save significantly while still customizing parts of their journey. These savings can go toward luxury upgrades, fine dining, or extra excursions.

"It was the perfect choice! I visited 10 cities in 14 days for just AUD 900. We shared transport and hotels but still had personal time to explore," said Dory Wilson, a traveler from Melbourne.

Explore Your Own Way

Flexible Group Tours blend guided experiences with free time. Travelers can join group activities like kayaking in Halong Bay or a sampan ride in the Mekong Delta, then break away to hike Sapa's rice terraces or discover hidden alleyways in Ho Chi Minh City.

"My trip to Vietnam was incredible! I got to enjoy both group and solo activities, all arranged to my preferences," shared Aaron Jones, a recent traveler with BestPrice Travel.

A Social Travel Experience

These tours are also great for meeting fellow travelers. Whether sharing a bowl of Pho, trekking through remote villages, or browsing night markets, the group dynamic creates meaningful social connections—without sacrificing personal freedom.

It's no surprise that more Aussies are increasingly drawn to this type of travel, giving the best of both worlds: personal freedom and social connection.

A Travel Trend on the Rise

The growing popularity of Flexible Group Tours has been well-received. BestPrice Travel and similar agencies have received TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award, reflecting high customer satisfaction.

With more direct flights between Australia and Vietnam and increasing demand for personalized, budget-friendly travel, this model is set to expand.

Travel agencies are expanding offerings with unique local experiences, such as:

The Future of Vietnam Travel

Flexible Group Tours are reshaping how Australians explore Vietnam, offering a perfect mix of affordability, personalization, and social experiences. As more Aussies look for budget-friendly yet flexible options, this model is becoming a game-changer.

For those planning to visit Vietnam, these tours offer the fullest travel experience that fits your lifestyle.

Explore more at https://www.bestpricetravel.com/en-au/vietnam-tours

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

BestPrice Travel Introduces Flexible Group Tours, Changing the Way Australians Explore Vietnam

Martin Sjolund appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 17, 2025

Vikram Atal to serve as senior advisor through December 31, 2025

NORFOLK, Va., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PRA Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA), a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed President of PRA Group Europe Martin Sjolund to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective June 17, 2025. Sjolund succeeds current President and CEO Vikram Atal, who announced that he will retire and serve as a senior advisor through December 31, 2025. Sjolund will be appointed to the Board upon assuming the role of President and CEO, and Atal will retire from the Board at that time.

"On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Vik for his leadership of PRA Group during a pivotal time," said Executive Chair of the Board Steve Fredrickson. "Today's announcement is the culmination of the Board's ongoing succession planning process and commitment to enabling long-term, profitable growth."

"It has been a privilege to lead PRA Group through this transformative time in the company's history," said Atal. "Since March 2023, I have worked closely with Martin, and I am highly confident in his ability to further strengthen our global leadership position. His strong track record in our European business, extensive industry knowledge, thoughtful leadership and commitment to our culture and customers will build on our strengths and create meaningful value for our shareholders in the years to come."

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead PRA Group as we enter our next phase of growth," said Sjolund. "As a team, we have already achieved record global portfolio purchases and double-digit cash growth, expanded our leadership team, improved operational processes and strengthened our capital structure. These actions have positioned us to continue driving the company forward while delivering value to our shareholders."

About Martin Sjolund
Sjolund has served as President of PRA Group Europe since 2018, providing leadership across 15 markets in Europe, Canada and Australia. During his tenure, Sjolund oversaw nearly $3 billion of successful portfolio investments across Europe, all while significantly improving the profitability of the European business. He led our expansion into two new markets, modernized the IT infrastructure and contact platforms, enhanced the data and analytics function and ultimately created one of Europe's most cost-efficient debt buying platforms.

Before being promoted to his current role, Sjolund served as Chief Operating Officer of Europe from 2015 until 2018. He was previously Director of Group Strategy and Corporate Development (Europe), a position he also held at Aktiv Kapital from 2011 until PRA Group acquired Aktiv Kapital in 2014.

Prior to joining Aktiv Kapital, Sjolund held leadership positions in global technology companies and was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in Singapore and London. Sjolund holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and is a graduate of Georgetown University.

About PRA Group
As a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, PRA Group, Inc. returns capital to banks and other creditors to help expand financial services for consumers in the Americas, Europe and Australia. With thousands of employees worldwide, PRA Group companies collaborate with customers to help them resolve their debt. For more information, please visit www.pragroup.com.

News Media Contact:
Elizabeth Kersey
Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Policy
(757) 641-0558
Elizabeth.Kersey@PRAGroup.com

Investor Contact:
Najim Mostamand, CFA
Vice President, Investor Relations
(757) 431-7913
IR@PRAGroup.com

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

PRA Group Announces Leadership Succession Plan