Since taking it over in , Geoffrey has turned the company into a bespoke-travel behemoth with 2, employees in 30 countries. Geoffrey Kent: It all has to do with testing and vaccines. People want to travel. But the psychology is a mess right now. Who wants to get on an airplane if someone might have Covid? People are going to have a hard time with it until we have herd immunity, which may not be until If a vaccine gets administered by April or May of , things may pick up by the end of that year.
If I book a flight, will it actually go? Will I get put into quarantine? What if the law changes overnight? How has the pandemic changed demands and habits among your clients who are still traveling? And my kids have to learn. And we want a guide.
The wealthier you are, the more you can tailor-make your trips. Budget travel revolves around groups. So make your own group.
Get together two families and get a place. Or get two or three families together and we can design a group trip for not a lot of money. For travelers, what kinds of long-term changes will the pandemic leave in its wake? I think people will be pretty wary of China, since the virus came from there. I think people may avoid city centers—Paris or Rome or wherever.
We have a luxury program called Wings over the World, which uses only privately chartered air travel, which has been generating very strong interest.
We have a lot of cash, with no private equity and no debt. We even have our eye on acquisitions in the hotel, lodge, and resort spaces.
We just hope the airlines survive. By Alex Martin September 16 Founded in by Geoffrey Kent, the company was one of the first to offer experiential adventures intertwined with the life of luxury.
The Covid pandemic not only shut down the travel industry for the best part of a year but has fundamentally changed the needs and wants of its customers. Here, Kent speaks exclusively to Elite Traveler about how his company adapted in the face of a global crisis and offers insight into how the events of this year could change travel forever.
What is the secret behind its success? Our secret is adventures by day and comfort at night. We take guests to spectacular places in remote destinations with the finest wilderness guides, supported by our trademark blend of privileged access, air-tight organization and outstanding service. We design travel for people who define luxury not so much by the degree of elegance, but by the quality of the experience.
Our mission is to provide travel that enhances and changes lives. We do so by delivering insider access to all corners of the world in peerless comfort and style, with unparalleled value and expertise.
You leave with a new understanding of how life is lived in another part of the world. Founding the company in Then in the early s, working with the president of Uganda to set aside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to protect endangered mountain gorillas. Today the gorilla population in the reserve has grown from to more than In fact, two baby gorillas were born just last month in Uganda.
Sustainable, nature-based tourism offers the best hope of protecting endangered places by ensuring that local people benefit directly from their natural heritage. What was the company doing during those uncertain times? We have faced many challenges over the years, and at the height of each crisis, it always seems as though there is no end.
But in every instance, we have weathered the storm and emerged even stronger. It was critical early in the crisis as borders were closing; we were able to get all of our guests home. It will be equally valuable as we navigate the complexities as travel restarts. Our local offices continue to work tirelessly with our transport, hotel and restaurant partners to ensure they are fully vetted and have implemented best practices in health and hygiene.
Now, many companies have had time to find a way through the uncertainty. Over almost 60 years in the business, I have learned that crises also create opportunities. There is a new focus on space and privacy. Guests are looking for different experiences and destinations with more outdoor adventures in wide-open spaces, as well as more customization, including private air charters. Which of these changes do you believe will be short-term and long-term?
We staffed up our US destination management company to handle tailor-made travel in the American West and Alaska.
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