Asia DMC, a Vietnam-based destination management company, is expanding its footprint into Los Angeles, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to capitalise on the explosion of local experience and adventure tourism.
DMC Thailand's managing director Andre van der Marck said the group will open its first US office to attract clients interested in long-haul experiences. The office, which will open this month, is expected to sign up more than 250 clients this year, and 500-600 in 2018.
"We cater to five-star level guests, people who need exclusive services such as top accommodation, private jets and luxury transport," Mr Marck said.
Early next year, the group will also open offices in Bali, Indonesia and Colombo, Sri Lanka, which are emerging markets for adventure, community experience, and ecological tourism. It will also open an office in the Indonesian capital Jakarta in the near future.
The 20-year-old company recently appointed key representatives from the US and India to crucial markets such as Britain, New Zealand and Australia.
The group operates 12 offices in five countries in the Mekong Subregion; five in Vietnam, two in Laos, two in Cambodia, two in Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai), and another one in Myanmar.
Last year, Mr Marck said Asia DMC served a total of 55,000 clients, 18,000 of whom travelled to Thailand. A large proportion of its customers came from the Netherlands, Britain, China, France, Germany and Australia.
The company's average customer spends about US$1,000 (34,000 baht) per head per trip -- 66% more than the general tourist.
Leading operators such as Asian Trails, Diethelm, Exotissimo, Asia World and Destination Asia brought about 2.5 million international tourists into the region.
To raise its brand awareness, Mr Marck said Asia DMC is building environmental awareness in Thailand through its Roots and Fruits programme by planting hundreds of fruit trees in communities around the country.
The trees (which include mango, pomelo and jackfruit) are expected to produce 9,000 kilogrammes of fruit and offset 12,000kg of carbon over their lifetime. Its latest planting session took place in Samut Sakhon province last Friday.