The luxury sector has welcomed two new female-founded specialist operators, with the launch of EnVogue Travel and Reefscape Travel.
Reefscape Travel is a tailor-made luxury diving holiday specialist, co-founded by Louisa Fisher and India Tyndall. The pair have 37 years of diving under their weight-belts and 15 years’ experience creating diving holidays, including at Original Travel. Fisher is also a marine biologist.
EnVogue Travel is a bespoke luxury tour operator, which bills itself as “bridging the gap between extreme adventures and the ultimate in luxury travel”. It was founded by entrepreneur and adventure travel expert Emma Higgins, who previously worked at Pelorus, and the operator is aimed at high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Both businesses are still in their first year of trading.
Each EnVogue Travel experience is tailored to the client, and recent trips have included retracing the caravan routes of the Silk Road on a 15-day road trip, covering 1,500 miles through Turkey and Georgia.
A wildlife adventure in British Columbia included a kayaking experience along the Chilko River to witness grizzly bears in their natural habitat, heli-swimming in glacier lakes and sailing alongside orcas, whilst camping in the wilderness. EnVogue Travel provides a 24/7 concierge service and private hosting is also available.
EnVogue Travel founder Higgins said: “Travel has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember and myself and the team take such joy in creating bespoke itineraries for our clients, designed to cater to their greatest desires. From heli-skiing in Greenland to dining in caves in Petra, no request is too great, and I’m really excited for what this next chapter will bring.”
Reefscape Travel offers resorts and vessels that have been picked and tested by the co-founders, and the pair personally deal with all enquiries. The team can advise on the top sheltered lagoons for those new to diving, and can suggest family resorts with junior marine biology programmes to engage budding ocean enthusiasts.
Co-founder India Tyndall explained: “We saw a demand for divers who were keen to plan their next luxury diving holiday but were seeking specialist knowledge from divers who had actually explored the sites themselves. Having dived in over 33 countries, and with our fingers on the pulse scouting out the best spots and accommodation, we are perfectly positioned to curate highly tailored luxury diving holidays according to interest, ability and experience.”
The pair said each dive holiday is “underpinned by a deep commitment to eco-conscious travel”. They select resorts that work to preserve their reefs and marine ecosystems, from conservation programmes and clean-up dives to outreach projects with local communities.