Martin Randall Travel
Encyclopedia
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.
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, and has seven festivals confirmed for 2009.
The third subsidiary, the Mediterranean Cruises series, launched in September 2008, on the MS Columbus
, in opposition to Swan Hellenic
, where Martin Randall once worked.
The first of the cruises coincided with the credit crunch
. The cruises series was cancelled after the first two seasons and eight itineraries.
said, "All three... highlights from my life as a cultural tourist were part of the remarkable series of music festivals run by Martin Randall." Christine Headley praised Martin Randall Travel's handling of money - covering most costs and distributing local currency - on the festival she attended. 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."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It specializes in small group tours, music festivals and Mediterranean cruises
Cruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
. It was named AITO Travel Company of the Year in 2005, 2007 and 2008, based on client surveys.
History
Martin Randall Travel was founded in 1988. It was the successor to Martin Randall's previous company, from which he was ousted in a boardroom coup. Its primary focus is the organization of small group tours, led by a lecturerLecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
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, and has seven festivals confirmed for 2009.
The third subsidiary, the Mediterranean Cruises series, launched in September 2008, on the MS Columbus
MS Columbus
MS Columbus is a 15,000-ton, 420 passenger, luxury cruise ship owned by the Hapag-Lloyd cruise line. She was built in 1997, in Wismar, Germany. Her relative size allows her to transit the Great Lakes, one of the few modern cruise ships and the only German one able to do so...
, in opposition to Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic is a British cruise line specialising in tours of historical or cultural interest aimed at the upper end of the cruise market.-History:...
, where Martin Randall once worked.
The first of the cruises coincided with the credit crunch
Credit crunch
A credit crunch is a reduction in the general availability of loans or a sudden tightening of the conditions required to obtain a loan from the banks. A credit crunch generally involves a reduction in the availability of credit independent of a rise in official interest rates...
. The cruises series was cancelled after the first two seasons and eight itineraries.
Critical acclaim
Martin Randall Travel focuses on a small clientele and has received favourable reviews. Ian Irvine in The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
said, "All three... highlights from my life as a cultural tourist were part of the remarkable series of music festivals run by Martin Randall." Christine Headley praised Martin Randall Travel's handling of money - covering most costs and distributing local currency - on the festival she attended. 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."