Haslemere Travel

Haslemere Travel
One of TTG’s Top 50 Travel Agencies 2020

Getting a space in Gemma Antrobus’s diary of training appointments for her team is like gold dust for any luxury travel company, so respected and successful is this shop in the pretty Surrey town of Haslemere.

It’s 32 years since the brand was launched by previous owners Di and Andrew Brownrigg, but for the past five years, Haslemere Travel has been under the watchful eye of Gemma and husband Ray, who have just made a bold move to new premises nearby. The shop has 10 staff, including 82-year-old Maureen, and customers further afield can benefit from Haslemere’s reputation for expert advice and travel knowledge too, thanks to a network of nine homeworkers.

And from ensuring that all hotel beds stayed in had mattress toppers and securing a personal session with an expert swordsmith on a complex Japan trip for one client, to planning a full safari for a wheelchair-bound traveller on another, the team really do put in 100% to create intricate and memorable trips. The agency keeps potential globetrotters in the loop with its own Traveller magazine and has just redesigned its website, now full of inspirational imagery and content, including the Director’s Choice, a list of hotels handpicked by Gemma and Ray.

The agency also plays an active part in the local community, from sponsoring one of the statues in the Haslemere Hounds project (Phileas Dogg: A Hound The World In 80 Days, which was later sold for auction) to taking a table with clients and tour operator Lusso at a local gala dinner to support Save The Children. Other top events have included Venice Simplon Orient-Express evenings and Haslemere’s own cruise and luxury show, which attracts up to 300 customers.

Gemma is also a regular voice on local radio station, BBC Surrey and has been actively involved with the Love Haslemere/Hate Waste initiative to empower locals to take care of resources and cut down waste. Meanwhile, plans are also afoot to implement a volunteering option for the team, which would allow two days’ paid leave a year to help a cause they care about.

haslemeretravel.co.uk