Alumni Travel

Alumni Partnership Programme

European Connoisseurs Travel (ECT) has been taking floral, textile and horticultural enthusiasts to inspiring events and destinations around the world for over 20 years. We pride ourselves on our ability to create truly bespoke tours and are now delighted to be able add a tailor-made Alumni Partnership Programme to our portfolio. Working in conjunction with leading educational institutions, we are able to design thought-provoking, immersive tours specifically tailored for alumni groups and have the industry expertise to take care of all practical details.

Why partner with us?

. You have an alumni network and are looking to explore opportunities to generate additional income

. We have over 20 years’ experience in the travel trade and outstanding industry relationships, meaning that we offer both expertise and service

. Together we can develop mutually beneficial, co-branded programmes that will appeal to your alumni

How does the partnership programme work?

The beauty of our Alumni Partnership Programme is that there is no fixed process. If you wish to travel with your own lecturers and have links with other institutions, particularly outside the UK, then we will act as facilitators, taking care of all travel logistics. Alternatively, we can draw on our well-established relationships with leading special interest groups and independent experts, artists, designers and craftsmen to devise a stimulating, tailor-made itinerary.

Whichever route you choose, you can be sure that we will work with you to create a tour that has been meticulously planned to run smoothly from start to finish and that will inspire all those travelling on it.

The themes set out below give a flavour of what we do, but please get in touch with us to discuss your individual requirements. We look forward to working with you.

Textiles

Textiles are one of our specialist areas and we have established close associations with many institutions and experts in the UK and abroad. For example, we can arrange private tours of the Royal School of Needlework’s remarkable embroidery collection at Hampton Court Palace, a curator-led talk at Bath’s famous Fashion Museum and visits to internationally-renowned textile showcases such as the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Patchwork & Quilting Days in Rijswijk and Alsace’s annual European Patchwork Meeting.

History and Culture

City tours make up a large part of our programme and we are delighted to be able to tailor these to suit the specific interests of different alumni groups. Architecture and design enthusiasts, for example, can explore the Art Nouveau legacy Victor Horta bequeathed to Brussels, while those with more literary interests might like to travel to Amsterdam for a tour of the sites that inspired The Miniaturist, or to Bath for an immersive Jane Austen tour complete with unique Regency experiences and expert talks. We also have well-established connections in centres of historic interest such as Budapest, Dubrovnik and the Battlefields of northern France.

Flowers, Gardens and Horticulture

We have been creating floral, horticultural and garden-themed tours for over 20 years. This wealth of experience means that we have the expertise to devise a compelling programme, whether your group is interested in discovering the world’s most exciting examples of floral art at events such as Floralia Brussels and the Singapore Garden Festival, the history of the French Renaissance garden or the fascinating facts of the Dutch flower trade.

Culinary Arts

The culinary arts are another area of specialism and we have well-established contacts with both Le Cordon Bleu Institute in Paris and Barcelona’s renowned Hoffman School. We are also able to create cooking and tasting tours to a variety of gastronomic regions, including Ticino in the Swiss Lakes, famous for its Merlot.