Looking after you & Looking Ahead: how an independent travel company copes when no one is travelling

Based in the beautiful city of Bath, we have been providing inspiring travel programmes since 1993. The coronavirus crises has hit the travel industry hard, but we have been swift to adapt. The entire team is now working from home where, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we are keeping in touch with each other, our clients and our suppliers. Emails are being picked up and responded to quickly and the office phones have been diverted so when people call, we answer just as we always have.

International travel restrictions have meant that many of our tour programmes have been cancelled. We know how disappointing this is, but we have done everything we can to make our customers feel cared for. To date, everyone travelling with us up until 30th June 2020 has either received a full refund or chosen to join the tour on revised dates. And, unlike some companies, we have not charged for these transfers – in fact, we’ve given each of our customers a travel voucher to use against future tours.

Whilst recognising the challenges this global pandemic presents, our CEO Theresa McDermott remains positive. “In February, we took almost 200 people on a fabulous tour programme to Northern India, visiting, amongst other highlights, the historic sites of the Golden Triangle, the World Association of Floral Artist’s triennial festival in Jaipur and the Ranthambore wildlife reserve,” she says.

“Listening to the feedback from our customers as travel restrictions came into place was a powerful reminder that travel is a pleasure with the power to unite people across cultures and continents, so we are looking ahead. We are busy researching a range of experiential, immersive tours to India, the Caribbean and New Zealand and will be ready for when you are able to travel once more. We can't wait!"