FCTG announces foundation cohort of new Luxury Travel Collection

FCTG announces foundation cohort of new Luxury Travel Collection
Edited by Travel Weekly


    The Luxury Travel Collection (LTC) has unveiled its Member Portfolio, announcing the foundation cohort of luxury member brands that officially joined on 1 December 2023.

    The new Member Portfolio includes Carole and Phil Smethurst with Bicton Travel and Claremont Travel & Cruise; Stuart Ingram and Destination HQ; Stephen Green and Travel Experts and Hilary and Holly Weir of Dream Maker Travel.

    Robyn and Murray Sinfield and Home Travel Company will join from 1 February 2024.

    Global managing director of the Luxury Travel Collection, Dani Galloway, said this celebrated group of industry professionals, under the Member Portfolio banner, will perfectly complement Travel Associates and Scott Dunn in the luxury market.

    Fiona Armaro, Alan & Carole Smethurst, David Armstrong, Alisha Stedman BICTON with Nikki Glading

    “The Luxury Travel Collection is now the leading global house of luxury travel brands. Our hand-selected members have established their stellar professional reputations by elevating travel to the very highest standard imaginable, with discerning clients at the centre of their business strategy,” Galloway said.

    “Establishing this portfolio of celebrated members was the obvious next step in building an unparalleled luxury business.”

    The Luxury Travel Collection’s Member Portfolio is headed up by general manager, Nikki Glading, who joined the business in May.

    “It is incredibly rewarding and exciting to work with this group of famous travel brands to deliver the best luxury travel services in Australia. We see such a bright future for the Member Portfolio which we’ll continue to grow with more of Australia and New Zealand’s best luxury travel brands attracted to our bespoke ecosystem,” Glading said.

    “Our business is a family, where people are the most important element to success. Welcoming Carole and Phil, Hilary and Holly, Stuart and Stephen into our family to build the foundation of this independent luxury brand house is an exceptional milestone. Together, we’ll build the most memorable partnership in the Australian luxury travel industry.”

    Nikki Glading & Stephen Green: TRAVEL EXPERTS

    The Luxury Travel Collection’s Member Portfolio is by personal invitation, and based on shared values of Influence, Distinction, Vision, Dynamism and Empowerment.

    All members are defined by their proven luxury credentials, along with:

    • Entrepreneurialism
    • A commitment to exceptional client service
    • An alignment to luxury business values
    • High performance & profitable results
    • A reputation for luxury
    • A high percentage of luxury preferred product

    “We are incredibly passionate about the strength of the partnerships we are establishing as we build an incomparable house of luxury travel products, unparalleled experiences and services,” Galloway concluded.

    The Luxury Travel Collection also launched its B2B website.

    Latest News

    • Cruise

    P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

    P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

    • Destinations

    Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

    Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

    • Appointments

    Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

    Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

    • Appointments

    Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

    Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]