Couple set up agency for LGBTQ+ travel

Huben Travel has been set up by Ben and Hugh Eddon-Carruthers, from south London, who are both newcomers to the travel industry.

Ben (pictured above left, with Hugh) worked previously as a West End stage manager for 11 years and told TTG Luxury the idea for Huben Travel came after the couple booked their own honeymoon.

“When we were looking to book our honeymoon we found it was difficult to get advice on where you can have a safe and great time on honeymoon,” he said. “What we want to do with Huben Travel is to give this kind of advice for the LGBTQ+ market. We want to offer a bespoke, individual, personalised service – we’ll spend as much time with guests on the phone as they want.”

Huben Travel’s website has now launched, and the company will act as both an agent and tour operator, as well as booking through other luxury operators, Ben said, and will be using Protected Trust Services.

“We think July will be a good time to launch as people will be desperate to get away later in the summer,” added Ben. “We’re not looking for crazy volumes anyway, with bookings being high end.”

Huben Travel’s website will include a honeymoons section, as well as a concierge area featuring parties and weddings.

Ben and Hugh, who is a chartered accountant, are running the business from home and will be emphasising personal service, with each client getting a single point of contact throughout the process.

“We’ll be doing a lot of research on countries that are safe to go to, and give clients bespoke, personalised advice,” added Ben. “But we won’t be saying ‘you can’t go to certain destinations just because you are LGBTQ+’.”

The couple also plan to lead their own group trips of up to 15 guests in 2021 and 2022, including an itinerary to San Francisco and the Napa Valley, a ski trip and a transatlantic cruise-and-stay to New York. As well as offering Cunard, Huben will also work with Silversea and Celebrity Cruises, Ben said.