Draft:Experience Travel Group

{{AFC submission|d|adv|u=SiobhanTot|ns=118|decliner=CNMall41|declinets=20250516215623|ts=20250516125429}}

{{AFC submission|d|adv|u=SiobhanTot|ns=118|decliner=ClaudineChionh|declinets=20250513061452|small=yes|ts=20250512153816}}

{{AFC comment|1=The format alone with advertorial with headings of "media coverage" and listing non-notable awards. This reads like a brochure for the company instead of an encyclopedia page. CNMall41 (talk) 21:56, 16 May 2025 (UTC)}}

----

{{Infobox company

| name = Experience Travel Group

| type = Private

| industry = Tour operator

| founded = 2004

| founders = Sam Clark, Tom Armstrong, Melissa Nicholas

| hq_location = London, United Kingdom

| area_served = South Asia and Southeast Asia

| key_people = Sam Clark (Managing Director)
Tom Armstrong (Co-founder)
Melissa Nicholas (Head of Product)

| parent = Inquisitive Traveller (since 2023)
Company no. 14742164{{cite web |title=INQUISITIVE TRAVELLER LIMITED |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14742164 |website=Companies House |access-date=2025-05-20}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com}}

}}

Experience Travel Group (ETG) is a British tour operator based in London, United Kingdom. It offers tailor-made holidays to destinations in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.{{cite news |title=Luxury Vietnam hotels: the hot new places to stay |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/luxury-vietnam-hotels-the-hot-new-places-to-stay-gpn63lgm6 |work=The Times |date=2024-07-10 |access-date=2025-05-20}}{{cite web |title=10 Best Sustainable Tourism Organizations |url=https://www.greenmatters.com/green-matters-approved/best-sustainable-tourism-organizations |website=Green Matters |date=2025-01-10 |access-date=2025-05-20}}

The company holds ATOL 9324 and is a member of ABTA (Y544X).{{cite news |title=ABTA welcomes 35 new Members from July to September |url=https://www.abta.com/news/abta-welcomes-35-new-members-july-september |work=ABTA |date=2012-10-04 |access-date=2025-05-20}}

History

The company was incorporated in 2004 as Sri Lanka Travel Company Ltd and changed its name to Experience Travel Group in 2019.{{cite web |title=EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP LTD |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05071391 |website=Companies House |access-date=2025-05-20}} It was founded by Sam Clark and Tom Armstrong, who were living in Sri Lanka at the time of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. According to BBC News and The Times, the founders coordinated aid deliveries during the weeks following the disaster.{{cite news |title=Britons give generously to tsunami aid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4273445.stm |work=BBC News |date=2005-02-17 |access-date=2025-05-19}}{{cite news |title=The village saved by science |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/asia-travel/sri-lanka/sri-lanka-boxing-day-tsunami-anniversary-2w5b5czvk |work=The Times |date=2024-12-26 |access-date=2025-05-20}}

In 2022, Experience Travel Group merged with the specialist tour operator Holiday Architects. A new holding company, Inquisitive Traveller Limited (ITL), was incorporated in 2023 to manage the group.

Operations

The company designs and arranges private, customized trips to countries across Asia. According to Condé Nast Traveller, the planning process begins with consultations, followed by tailored itineraries that include hotels, transfers, and activities.{{cite magazine |title=The Great Decision Detox: Why decision-free holidays are the latest trend for women |url=https://www.cntraveller.com/article/the-great-decision-detox-why-decision-free-holidays-are-the-latest-travel-trend-for-women |magazine=Condé Nast Traveller |date=2025-05-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}

In 2023, the company introduced a model for tip-inclusive holidays, where gratuities are prepaid and distributed to local staff.{{cite news |title=Asia specialist to pioneer 'tip-inclusive' holidays |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622230557/https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/asia-specialist-to-pioneer-tip-inclusive-holidays-28632 |work=TTG Media |date=2023-04-11 |access-date=2025-05-21}}

ETG has worked with organizations such as the Mahouts Elephant Foundation in Thailand and SeaTrees, a non-profit focused on coastal ecosystem restoration.{{cite news |title=Ethical experiences: how the tide is turning for Thailand's long-exploited elephants |url=https://www.aspiretravelclub.co.uk/destinations/ethical-experiences-how-the-tide-is-turning-for-thailands-long-exploited-elephants |work=Aspire Travel Club |date=2025-03-10 |access-date=2025-05-20}}{{cite web |title=SeaTrees Brand Partners |url=https://seatrees.org/pages/brand-partners |website=SeaTrees |access-date=2025-05-19}}

As of 2023, Experience Travel Group had an estimated turnover of £2.3 million and employed approximately 15 people, according to business data from Pomanda.{{cite web |title=Experience Travel Group Ltd - Company Profile |url=https://pomanda.com/company/05071391/experience-travel-group-ltd |website=Pomanda |date=2021-11-19 |access-date=2025-05-20}}

Reception

In 2022, the company became certified as a B Corporation.{{cite web |title=Experience Travel Group |url=https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/experience-travel-group/ |website=B Corporation |access-date=2025-05-19}} According to TTG Media, it was the first AITO member to receive the certification.{{cite news |title=How does B Corp benefit travel businesses and their customers? |url=https://www.ttgmedia.com/sustainability/sustainability/how-does-b-corp-benefit-travel-businesses-and-their-customers-45361 |work=TTG Media |date=2023-10-02 |access-date=2025-05-19}}

Experience Travel Group received Silver awards in the 2023 and 2024 British Travel Awards, in categories relating to the Indian Ocean and South Asia.{{cite web |title=British Travel Awards 2023 Winners |url=https://www.britishtravelawards.com/winner2023.php?p=2 |website=British Travel Awards |access-date=2025-04-23}} It also received Silver in the AITO Specialist Tour Operator Awards in the same years, based on reviews from verified customers.{{cite web |title=AITO Awards and Reviews |url=https://www.aito.com/media-area/awards |website=AITO |access-date=2025-05-19}}

Its work has been covered in publications including The Times, The Telegraph, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveller.{{cite news |title=Following in the footsteps of elephants on a journey through wild eastern Sri Lanka |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/eastern-sri-lanka-jungle-wilderness |work=National Geographic |date=2024-08-20 |access-date=2025-05-16}}{{cite news |title=Views and brews: what it's like to hike the hills of Sri Lanka's tea country |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/views-and-brews-what-its-like-to-hike-the-hills-of-sri-lankas-tea-country-9v7s30nt9 |work=The Times |date=2024-07-15 |access-date=2025-05-16}}

References

External links

[https://www.experiencetravelgroup.com/ Official website]