Abercrombie & Kent
 | |
| Industry | Travel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Geoffrey JW Kent |
| Website | http://www.abercrombiekent.com |
Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) is a luxury travel company, founded in 1962.[1][2]
History
Abercrombie & Kent began in East Africa, where Geoffrey Kent was born while his parents, Valerie and Colonel John Kent, were on safari. Though British by birth, the Kents were drawn to the freedom and beauty of life in Africa, qualities that made a powerful impression on Geoffrey, who lived on the continent for most of his childhood. In 1962, he and his parents founded Abercrombie & Kent to allow visitors to experience Africa without compromise to either comfort or authenticity. The company's beginnings were modest; as Geoffrey Kent remembers, their first safaris were conducted with little more than "a Bedford truck and my mother's sterling silver ice bucket."[1]
In 1967, Colonel and Mrs. John Kent retired from active participation in the company, leaving their son to become Chief Executive Office. Recognizing the tremendous business opportunity in international travel, Geoffrey Kent decided to expand A&K's signature style of travel. In 1969, he began opening additional companies in Africa; in 1971 he met Jorie Ford Butler of Oak Brook, Illinois. She became a partner in the business and together they expanded A&K beyond the African continent. Abercrombie & Kent became a worldwide group of companies, first opening an office in London, then in Oak Brook, Illinois, followed by Melbourne, Australia.[1]
Destination Management Companies
Abercrombie & Kent has the world's largest network of luxury destination management companies, with 51 offices and 2,500 employees on the ground in 26 countries.
Destination Management Company locations: Argentina, Australasia, Botswana, Cambodia, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Europe, Kenya, India, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Myanmar, Peru, Russia, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Zambia.
Boutiques
Abercrombie & Kent operates a number of private travel boutiques around the world. The first concession opened in Harrods department store in 2009. A stand-alone store on Cheapside in London's financial district opened in 2012. The store is designed as a fusion of modern technology, with an electronic gallery in lieu of brochures and the ability for customers to Skype Abercrombie & Kent's offices. The roll out of boutiques has continued with appointment only spaces now in Monaco and Abu Dhabi.
Awards
- Conde Nast Traveler, Gold List: Cruises[3]
- Porthole Cruise Magazine 2012: Best Worldwide Tour Operator [4]
- World Travel Awards 2011: Africa's Leading Luxury Tour Operator [5]
- World Travel Awards 2011: Australasia's Leading Luxury Tour Operator [5]
- Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards: World’s Best Luxury Tour Operator and Best Africa Tour Operator [6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Abercrombie & Kent main page". 1996–2009. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
- ↑ "Photo Travel Review Magazine". Tanzania–Abercrombie & Kent Review. February 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
- ↑ http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/goldlist/2011/category/cruiselines
- ↑ http://private.porthole.com/porthole1/EIC-2012.htm
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2011". World Travel Awards.
- ↑ "Readers' Choice gala honors best of the best".
Further reading
- Sloan, Gene (January 4, 2011). "Ship problems prompt Abercrombie & Kent to cancel Antarctica cruise". USA Today. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- Engle, Jane (July 19, 2011). "Abercrombie & Kent does Cuba, with mojitos and luxury hotels". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- Fitzsimmons, Annie (February 17, 2012). "Travel Tastemaker: Geoffrey Kent Celebrates Abercrombie & Kent's 50 Years". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- Schmadeke, Steve (September 11, 2007). "Space tourism in limbo, suit says". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2012.