The travel industry is ever evolving and reflects who we are as people, as a community and as a nation. We saw the growth of mass tourism to the Costa’s in the 70’s, low-cost long-haul travel in the 80’s, cruising in the 90’s and 2000’s and more recently the growth of short breaks fuelled by the plethora of low-cost airlines. Through all of these changes in the industry, what has remained consistent is the role of a professional and dedicated travel agent. Whether that was initially the booking centre on the high street, a knowledgable expert who could plan those long-haul adventures, or your dependable sidekick who knows exactly what you’re looking for, even if you don’t yourself; they will always be there for you.
With the pandemic now behind us, we’re heading into a new era. An era where the conformities of the past are no longer enough and we have to bring even more value, expert knowledge, service and values to the table. We saw last summer the way you travel is changing. You’re not travelling to the Mediterranean in the summer holidays, you’re taking more holidays – but maybe they are a little shorter and you’re avoiding places where you don’t feel welcomed. The industry is only just waking up to this, but we’ve been on it for the last year, finding the right destinations, the right product at the right price to suit your changing needs. It’s no co-incidence in the places we have visited and the products we have sampled to expand our knowledge; Uzbekistan for those who want to be a little more adventure, Magari for the excellent immersive tours in Italy, Explora Journeys for the new fabulous way to see the world by ocean, SeaDream for their amazing yacht experience, Switzerland for its amazing rail journeys – all seeing the world in a unique and thoughtful way. Just as you want to.
We’re calling this the era of ‘The Modern Travel Agency’. Not that you’re going to be able to book holidays on our website, or that we’re introducing a new AI chatbot; but culturally modern, understanding and acting upon the nuances of our changing society. Through service, knowledge, relationships, experience, value, understanding, care, compassion, thoughtfulness, trust, dedication and delivering on our overarching values. So we’re ahead of the curve, not just riding the wave. Our heritage and foundation remains though; we’re an enthusiastic ABTA member and our partners provide ATOL bonding so you’re fully financially protected, we provide emergency support whilst you’re away, we’ll check you in for your flight or cruise whenever we can just to take some of the stress away, and we’ll always be that friendly voice at the end of the phone even if you have the silliest of questions. What has been our DNA for the last thirty years isn’t changing, it’s the foundation for the next thirty years.
Over the last two years we have taken great strides in being a more responsible business, and we believe this will be imperative for all agencies to undertake if they wish to remain relevant in the future. We’re the first agency in the country to have a written and published cruise policy, we’re championing low-impact travel such as rail journeys, sourcing the off-season alternative destinations you’re asking for, help promote improved animal welfare abroad and do our part to tackle some of the overtourism issues destinations we visit face. The bigger impact we can make, the better your holidays are going to be; and we’re open to working collaboratively with other like-minded agencies around the country to create an even bigger impact.
Travel is so much more than a glossy brochure, or an aesthetically pleasing instagram post or an irresistible offer. It’s about a feeling, how it makes you feel and sometimes how you make others feel. There’s joy in travelling the world meeting people, experiencing different cultures and learning how they live. It’s enriching, enthralling, elating and sometimes upsetting. The ‘modern traveller’ cares and knows that to experience something that has a meaningful impact is to head beyond the superficial facade. That’s what we aim to provide, and why we challenge you to trust us.
It’s not about us though, it’s about you. It’s always been about you. What you like, what you don’t like; how you want to travel, if you want to travel, why you want to travel. We’re here to make it happen in a informed, professional and ‘modern’ way.
