Original Travel

Last updated
Original Travel
Company typePrivate
IndustryTravel
Founded2003;22 years ago (2003)
FoundersNick Newbury
Tom Barber
Alastair Poulain
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
Parent Voyageurs du Monde
Website www.originaltravel.co.uk

Original Travel is a British luxury tour operator based in London. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

Original Travel was founded in London in 2003 by Nick Newbury, Tom Barber, and Alastair Poulain. [2] [4] [5] Initially providing short, experience-focused holidays called Big Short Breaks, Original Travel later expanded into customised, long-haul itineraries. [6] [2] In 2007, it received an award at the Guardian/Observer Travel Awards. [7]

In 2009, Original Travel acquired specialist operator Tim Best Travel and three years later, in 2012, acquired Simoon Travel. [2] [4] During this period, Original Travel founded Original Diving, a specialised division for diving holidays. [8]

In 2013, Original Travel co-developed family holiday offerings with children's event planners Sharky and George. [9]

In 2016, Original Travel moved its head office to Putney, London. [10]

In 2017, French travel group Voyageurs du Monde acquired a 60 percent stake in Original Travel in order to expand its presence into English-speaking countries. [11] [12] [13] In the same year, Original Travel began absorbing all carbon emissions from client travel, including independently booked flights and car rentals, through reforestation projects. [14]

In 2020, Original Travel launched a European Equivalents programme with a reduced carbon footprint. [15]

In the late 2010s, Original Travel began operations in the United States. In 2022, it acquired a controlling stake in Extraordinary Journeys, a Washington, D.C.-based adventure and safari travel specialist. [16]

In 2024, Original Travel was included in Condé Nast Traveller's Readers' Choice Awards and was ranked fifth in the list. [17]

References

  1. ↑ Bryan-Brown, Chlo? (May 29, 2007). "Great family destinations but are they exciting let alone Original?". The Times .
  2. 1 2 3 4 Features, James McKeigue published in (June 4, 2010). "Nick Newbury: how my travel idea paid off". Moneyweek .
  3. ↑ "'Labour doesn't really seem to care about us'". Independent.co.uk . 13 October 2007.
  4. 1 2 "Travel Awards 2012 winners". The Guardian. September 29, 2012.
  5. ↑ O'Connor, Joanne (January 26, 2003). "What's hot..." The Guardian.
  6. ↑ "Original Travel's chief executive reveals how its services stand out in a sea of travel companies". City AM. January 23, 2017.
  7. ↑ "The Guardian/Observer/Guardian Unlimited Travel Awards 2007 - Winners Announced". The Guardian. October 29, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Ultimate island adventures". Independent.co.uk . September 18, 2013.
  9. ↑ "How to survive a family holiday (and NOT shout!)". Tatler . July 5, 2013.
  10. ↑ "About".
  11. ↑ "Voyageurs du Monde acquires 60 percent strategic stake in Original Travel". Reuters. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  12. ↑ Bow, Michael (January 9, 2017). "London's Original Travel sells 60% stake to French giant". The Standard.
  13. ↑ "Voyageurs du Monde eyes English-speaking market with 60 per cent stake in UK travel company Original Travel". City AM . January 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ Leadbeater, Chris (October 15, 2019). "10 ways to reduce your carbon footprint when flying" – via Daily Telegraph.
  15. ↑ Clatworthy, Ben (March 7, 2020). "This week in travel: the $100,000‑a‑night Las Vegas suite and a Silk Road private jet tour". The Times.
  16. ↑ Eymery, Céline. "Voyageurs du Monde acquiert un spécialiste des voyages sur-mesure aux Etats-Unis". TourMaG.com, le média spécialiste du tourisme francophone.
  17. ↑ Traveller, Condé Nast (November 16, 2020). "The best tour operators in the world: 2024 Readers' Choice Awards". CN Traveller.
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