Luxury UK operator to open US office
Luxury tour operator Audley Travel is opening its first US office in Boston as it looks to tap into a strong demand for tailor-maid long haul trips.
The firm has selected a 7,000 square feet office in downtown Boston and has already taken on 27 staff for the opening in the first week of March.
Audley CEO Ian Simkin said he hopes to take on up to 40 staff by the year end.
"The demand we can see already warrants an increase in more staff," he said.
The Boston office is Audley’s first in the US and will serve customers country-wide but demand may mean a second office opening on the West Coast, said Simkins.
Audley’s customer facing agents or ‘country sales specialists,’ work one-on-one with customers to build bespoke worldwide itineraries that typically cost up to $10,000 per couple.
Audley agents gain product knowledge by taking trips to the countries they will specialize in, leveraging on the ‘first-hand experience’ that Simkins believes attracts prospective customers.
Audley also plan to open a second UK office in London.
By TravelMole US editor Ray Montgomery
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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