Groups drive new A&K business

Abercrombie & Kent staff have noticed a curious trend in recent months – the addition of a number of new postcodes to the luxury operator’s customer base. The company is attributing the growth in its market penetration to the addition of small group tours to the portfolio, which is introducing clients from new segments – who once experiencing the A&K offering are likely to continue to explore the rest of the portfolio. A case in point is A&K’S Egypt product. The company has traditionally taken its upmarket clients to the intriguing destination, and managing director Sujata Raman told travelbulletin she is keen to continue supporting the company’s ground operators in Egypt who have experienced massive disruption to their lives and incomes due to the Arab Spring revolution. This year A&K has released a week-long private journey, priced from just $3,970 per person which includes all the highlights of Cairo such as the pyramids, the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and the Mummy Room – along with luxury accommodation at Fairmont Nile City Hotel. But that’s not all – a three-night Nile cruise follows aboard the luxury Sanctuary Sun Boat IV from which guests can experience all the splendour of temples and tombs between Aswan and Luxor. Interpretation is provided by an A&K Egyptologist, with Raman saying travellers to Egypt at the moment can “see the country at its friendly best and have the sights to themselves”. The seven-day Treasures of Egypt tour cost also includes internal flights from Cairo to Aswan and from Luxor to Cairo, as well as small group excursions during the cruise. Along with the group tour offerings A&K is continuing to see demand for its mainstream bespoke tours this year, with the “core product performing extremely well,” Raman said. And for a truly upmarket experience the visit to Australia of the Abercrombie & Kent private jet last year gave an insight into the indulgent touring option which costs about US$100,000 per person for a three week multi-stop worldwide holiday for up to 50 passengers all in First Class luxury. Having established a New Zealand office just last year and with the local business also including an extensive portfolio of shore excursion operations on behalf of a variety of cruise lines, Abercrombie & Kent has now been operating in Australia for three decades.