The Business of Travel - July Edition

Introduction:

Welcome to the July edition of In the Business of Travel, where we delve into the latest happenings across Scott Dunn. As the summer season hits full stride, July has proven to be one of our busiest months, particularly within our Explorers Kids Clubs as families across the globe seek unforgettable travel experiences. This month has been packed with developments highlighting our commitment to excellence in luxury travel, from new safety enhancements and exciting marketing campaigns to recognition at prestigious industry awards. Let’s take a closer look at the highlights from July, as we continue to elevate the travel experiences we offer to our guests.

Trading News and Luxury Travel Trends:

July is all about family holidays as schools break for summer, and as expected it is consistently one of the busiest months at our Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Clubs. Our team of childcare experts looked after no fewer than 398 children across our Explorers Kids Clubs in the Mediterranean this July. With safety always a top priority, we also rolled out LifeVacs – a small non-invasive airway clearance device – at Daios Cove and COSTA NAVARINO in Greece, and Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal. We’ve also upgraded our Explorers rash vests?to an eye-catching new design that ensures optimal water safety for little swimmers.

Explorers Kids Clubs aside, Europe was the most-visited region in July for our guests. Greece and Italy have retained their allure as summer hotspots, but for those seeking cooler climes, Iceland and Norway emerged as trending destinations. Elsewhere in the world, the most-visited destinations in July included South Africa, Indonesia, the USA and Canada – all countries that offer a combination of epic adventures and stunning scenery.?

We were deeply saddened to hear about the wildfires that affected Jasper and its surrounding areas this month. Thanks to the exceptional support from our on-the-ground partners, Discover, we were able to assist our guests in the area and provide guidance to those planning to travel there. Our thoughts are with the people of Jasper during this challenging time, and we hope the town, its residents, and businesses can rebuild and recover soon.?

People News & Updates:

Our teams around the globe recently enjoyed the annual Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) Regional Summer Balls, and the excitement was contagious. The USA team celebrated in Boston, while the Singapore team had a blast with a Netflix-themed event. Meanwhile, the London team soaked up a festival-themed evening at City Beach London. These events were not only packed with fun but also offered fantastic opportunities to connect and mingle with colleagues from across FCTG brands.

Following these global celebrations, on July 12th, Sophie Ottaway , Sonia Davies , and Andre Rickerby from the Scott Dunn Global Leadership Team accompanied 30 of our top performers to Portugal for Flight Centre Travel Group ’s annual Global Gathering! Thousands of ‘Flighties’ from across FCTG’s global brands gathered in Lisbon for an unforgettable weekend. The festivities kicked off with an extravagant White Party on the opening night, followed by a lively conference on Saturday morning, and culminated in a prestigious Gala Awards Dinner hosted by Gemma Collins. The night continued with an epic afterparty featuring performances by Rita Ora and Jax Jones. It was a weekend to remember, full of celebration and recognition. Special congratulations to Jon Dunne (Top Scott Dunn Adviser) and Eli Hardcastle (Top NPS) for winning awards during Saturday’s conference. To receive recognition across the whole FCTG is an incredible achievement and we’re already looking forward to next year’s Global Gathering in Los Angeles!

In other exciting news, we proudly celebrated our Travel Consultants and Travel Executives who achieved an exceptional milestone in FY24—an NPS score of 80+ paired with a response rate of at least 25%. This is a remarkable achievement, with an NPS score of 80+ being truly outstanding. For those unfamiliar, NPS (Net Promoter Score) measures customer loyalty and is based on the question, "How likely are you to recommend Scott Dunn to a friend or colleague?" Scores can range from -100 to 100. We’re thrilled to make this recognition an annual tradition, so the competition is on for FY25. Congratulations to the 39 employees honoured in this inaugural event!

We also celebrated our Q4 All In Awards winners, recognising those who embody our core company values: In the Know, In the Detail, and Inspiring. We were delighted to announce the following Q4 All In Awards winners: Sabina A. for ‘In the Know’, Izzy Moran for ‘In the Detail’, and Alex Steele for ‘Inspiring.’ Honourable mentions were also awarded to Manila Gupta and Delaney Jacobs.

PR Activity:

Our PR and Communications team had a sociable month in July meeting with key travel media and industry partners. Kirsty Edwards and Caitriona O'Connor attended The Beaumont hotel’s glamorous re-opening party organised by Perowne International – celebrating the completion of an extensive renovation. It was a fantastic evening hosted by the property’s inspiring new CEO Stuart Procter , and we managed to get a sneak peak of the iconic Roosevelt Suite with its chic art deco interiors and huge private terrace. Kirsty Edwards was a guest of Perowne International a second time in July, participating in their fabulous inaugural tennis tournament at The Hurlingham Club .?

In the world of press coverage, Rosalyn Wikeley wrote a stand-out review of our Scott Dunn Explorer’s Kids Club at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Limassol, Cyprus in the latest edition of Country & Town House following her recent visit. In Rosalyn’s words: “If a clean break is on the cards – full afternoons or days to yourself, without even the flicker of concern over lunches or lathering on suncream to tiny, sticky arms, I’d be hot-footing it to the Kids Club gates at Park Lane Limassol, then straight to the spa.”

Supplier News:?

July was a busy month for our team, with several members embarking on familiarisation trips, including a series of cruises aboard Silversea Cruises Silver Ray and Explora I by Explora Journeys . These trips have been invaluable in enhancing our specialists’ knowledge as we prepare to launch an exciting new range of Land and Sea itineraries within Scott Dunn’s cruise portfolio. It was also a pleasure to connect with Travel Associates Australia & New Zealand , our agent partners from Australia and New Zealand, who joined us on the Silver Ray. This provided the perfect opportunity to introduce them to one of our preferred partner hotels, Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas, home to our Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club.

Additionally, our experts visited a selection of chalets across the French Alps, Switzerland, and Austria to refine our offerings. Stay tuned for these new launches, which are set to debut in the coming months.

Events:

On July 2nd, the Scott Dunn Private team hosted an exclusive event for their pinnacle members, in collaboration with One&Only Resorts . Jules Maury , Victoria Reynolds , Jon Dunne and Dominic Atterton represented our team, joined by senior representatives from O&O Aesthesis, O&O Reethi Rah, O&O Portonovi, and Kerzner. The evening, held at estiatorio Milos , was a spectacular affair where guests indulged in delicious Greek cuisine and fine wines, all while enjoying the company of our esteemed partners from O&O and Kerzner International .

On July 18th, our US team had the pleasure of attending Dan’s Chefs of the Hamptons, an event hosted by the renowned celebrity chef Anne Burrell at SìSì EHP Resort & Marina. This annual gathering is a highlight for food enthusiasts, featuring top chefs, mouth-watering dishes, a live DJ, and stunning views of Three Mile Harbor. Scott Dunn was well-represented by William Nuti , Abbey Chase and Jade Lynch , who engaged with guests at our booth and handed out exclusive gift bags filled with towels, brochures, and other goodies.

Our US Business Development team also enjoyed a delightful evening with the Travel + Leisure team at Palm Court at The Plaza, A Fairmont Hotel. The cocktail reception was a celebration of the 2024 ‘World’s Best’ Winners, announced earlier this year—a fitting occasion to honour excellence in the travel industry.

Conclusion:

As we wrap up our July edition, it’s clear that this has been a month of growth, recognition, and celebration. From expanding our specialists’ expertise through familiarisation trips to accolade nominations and making lasting connections at high-profile events, our team’s dedication to excellence continues to shine. As we look forward to the coming months, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of luxury travel, ensuring that every Scott Dunn experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you for being part of our journey, and here’s to more exciting adventures ahead!