- Martin Randall Travel
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Martin Randall Travel is a cultural tour operator in Britain. It specializes in small group tours, music festivals and Mediterranean cruises. It was named AITO Travel Company of the Year in 2005, 2007 and 2008, based on client surveys.[1]
Contents
History
Martin Randall Travel was founded in 1988.[2] It was the successor to Martin Randall's previous company, from which he was ousted in a boardroom coup[2]. Its primary focus is the organization of small group tours, led by a lecturer who is an expert in their field.
In 1994, the company expanded into producing music festivals to complement their small group tours. The company pioneered this concept[citation needed], and has seven festivals confirmed for 2009.
The third subsidiary, the Mediterranian Cruises series, launched in September 2008, on the MS Columbus, in opposition to Swan Hellenic, where Martin Randall once worked.[3]
The first of the cruises coincided with the credit crunch. The cruises series was cancelled after the first two seasons and eight itineraries.[4]
Critical acclaim
Martin Randall Travel focuses on a small clientele and has received favourable reviews.[citation needed] Ian Irvine in the Independent said, "All three... highlights from my life as a cultural tourist were part of the remarkable series of music festivals run by Martin Randall."[5] Christine Headley praised Martin Randall Travel's handling of money - covering most costs and distributing local currency - on the festival she attended.[6] Kenneth Asch wrote in the Travellers' Handbook, "Of all the travel services I have researched, Martin Randall Travel is perhaps the most comprehensive, culturally speaking."[7]
Directors
- Martin Randall, founder
- Vernon Ellis
- Sam Fogg
- Neil Taylor
- Fiona Urquhart
External links
"www.martinrandall.com". Martin Randall Travel's website. http://www.martinrandall.com. Retrieved 12/06/08.
References
- ^ AITO (15 January 2008). "2007 AITO Award Winners". AITO press release. http://www.aito.co.uk/aito/ewebeditpro4/upload/AITO_Travel_Company_Winners_2008(4).doc. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
- ^ a b Michael Shmith (October 27, 2005). "Walking, Not Cruising". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/activities--interests/walking-not-cruising/2005/10/20/1129775895310.html. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
- ^ "Martin Randall Travel Cruises". Company website. http://www.martinrandall.com/Cruises/Introduction.aspx. Retrieved 03/12/09.
- ^ "Martin Randall Eyes Cruising". Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland. 24 November 2006. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-6007796/Martin-Randall-eyes-cruising-contracts.html. Retrieved 12/01/08.
- ^ Ian Irvine (18 April 2004). "All the (Baroque) world's a stage". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/all-the-baroque-worlds-a-stage-560471.html. Retrieved 12/01/08.
- ^ Christine Headley (1997). "Seven Days in Danubia". Review of The Fourth Austro-Hungarian Music Festival. http://www.chps.co.uk/danubia.htm. Retrieved 12/01/08.
- ^ Kenneth Asch. "The Cultural Traveller". The Traveller's Handbook. http://www.travelleronline.com/library/handbook/p1_theculturaltraveller.htm. Retrieved 12/01/08.
Categories:- Travel and holiday companies of the United Kingdom
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