New travel firm launches in London
A London-based travel company has launched this week and will put British holidaymakers directly in touch with local travel agents in a long-haul destinations.
Insider Places has been set up by Chris Fraser, who founded accommodation-only business HotelConnect in 1993 and who has held senior consultancy roles with Cox & Kings and The Hideaways Club.
It initially launches with a network of ‘vigorously vetted’, local travel agents in 15 countries across South America and Asia, including Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Malaysia and Borneo, Myanmar, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Indonesia, Japan and South Africa are among countries that will be added later this year.
Fraser, who is managing director of the company, explained: "We offer opportunities to live like the locals, eat like them, cook with them. Away from ‘The Gringo Trail’ that is so often served up by many travel operators, but with the security that comes with a fully bonded, UK-based company.
"I wanted to make this connection easier by pulling together a trusted team of the very best local agents and provide recognised travel guarantees, allowing customers to benefit from the improved experience and great savings, which can be as high as 20%, when booking directly with fewer intermediaries."
He said the company’s UK team takes time to find out what each client wants from a trip before introducing them to one of their on-the-ground experts.
Once a detailed enquiry form has been filled in online, the Insider Places sales team schedules a call with each client to run through their exact requirements and wish list so that they are matched with the most suitable travel agent in their chosen destination.
"Our strong local negotiation results in prices people would struggle to better online. Our clients can save as much as 20% on their holiday with the added bonus of their itinerary featuring authentic, local experiences that they probably can’t book through most tour operators and high-street travel agents.
“Also a bigger proportion of the customers’ money goes to the travel agents we work with in the destinations we feature."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent