Original Travel: The Story Behind a Leading Tailor-Made Luxury Travel Brand
Original Travel has built a strong reputation in the luxury tourism market by focusing on thoughtful planning, expert advice, and highly personalised holidays. Based in London, the company is known for creating bespoke trips rather than selling standard off-the-shelf packages. Its approach is centred on matching each client with the right destination, hotel, and experience according to their interests, lifestyle, and expectations.
Founded in 2003 as a public-facing brand, and operating through ORIGINAL TRAVEL COMPANY LTD, the business has developed into a recognised name in tailor-made travel. It serves clients looking for more than a simple holiday booking, offering carefully designed journeys that range from family escapes and city breaks to major adventures, sabbaticals, and special celebratory trips.
The Background of Original Travel
Company foundation and legal structure
Original Travel was established as an award-winning travel company with a clear focus on bespoke luxury experiences. The legal entity behind the brand is ORIGINAL TRAVEL COMPANY LTD, a private limited company with company number 04437204. The company was incorporated on 13 May 2002, while 2003 is widely presented as the brand’s founding year. This difference is not unusual, as many businesses are legally incorporated before they begin trading publicly under a brand identity.
The company remains active and operates within the tour operator sector. Its registered office address is 27 Greville Street, London, England, EC1N 8SU. Under the Standard Industrial Classification system, it is listed under SIC code 79120, which covers tour operator activities.
Headquarters and company profile
The business is based in London, England, and is positioned firmly in the premium end of the market. It falls within the travel arrangements industry and has developed a profile associated with quality, creativity, and expert-led planning. Its workforce is typically described as being within the 51 to 200 employee range, showing that it is large enough to offer specialist knowledge across many destinations, yet focused enough to maintain a personal service.
Leadership at Original Travel
Founder and CEO
One of the key names associated with the company is Tom Barber, who is recognised as a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. He is part of the leadership team that helped shape the business into a respected travel brand in the UK. The founding team also includes Nick Newbury and Alastair Poulain, all of whom played important roles in developing the company’s direction and identity.
Leadership vision
The leadership model behind the company appears to be based on expertise, creativity, and long-term client trust. Rather than competing on volume alone, the business has focused on quality and specialist knowledge. This has helped it stand out in a competitive luxury travel market where clients often expect not just bookings, but insight, problem-solving, and memorable experience design.
What Original Travel Offers
Tailor-made holidays
At the heart of the company is a commitment to truly bespoke travel. This means itineraries are built around the traveller rather than around a fixed package. Clients can expect guidance on destinations, timing, accommodation, transport, and activities, all adjusted to suit personal preferences. This flexible style is especially appealing to travellers who want convenience without sacrificing individuality.
Holiday types and travel styles
The company’s services cover a wide spread of travel needs. These include family holidays, couples’ getaways, experience-filled adventures, big short breaks, and longer sabbaticals. It also has expertise in safaris, train travel, rail holidays, road trips, Nile cruises, diving, and multi-generational holidays. Community-based tourism and flight-free travel are also among its specialist areas, suggesting a wider interest in meaningful and more considered travel choices.
Specialist experiences
A notable part of the brand’s appeal lies in the variety of experiences it promotes. Rather than focusing only on luxury hotels, it aims to deliver well-rounded trips with memorable moments and strong destination knowledge. This may include cultural encounters, scenic rail journeys, wildlife travel, coastal escapes, or carefully planned family itineraries that balance comfort with discovery.
Reputation and market position
Recognition in the luxury sector
Original Travel presents itself as a travel company with a strong reputation for expertise. One of its standout claims is that it features more Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists than any other company. That kind of positioning supports its image as a trusted adviser in the luxury holiday space rather than just a booking platform.
The brand is also described as award-winning and creative, which reinforces the sense that it wants to be known for quality and originality. In a crowded travel market, these qualities can make a meaningful difference, especially among clients seeking reassurance before committing to high-value trips.
Client-focused approach
The company’s appeal is likely strengthened by its human-centred service. A dedicated team of travel experts helps clients find destinations and experiences suited to their needs. This kind of hands-on support remains valuable in a market where many travellers still want expert guidance for complex or expensive holidays, even in a digital age.
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Workplace culture and company environment
Hybrid working model
The company also offers insight into its workplace culture. It follows a hybrid model in which employees are expected to spend at least three days a week in the office. At the same time, it promotes flexibility and appears keen to create a working environment that people enjoy being part of.
Employee benefits
Featured benefits include flexible working hours, remote working options, and work-from-anywhere weeks. These benefits suggest a modern employer approach that values balance, autonomy, and adaptability. For a travel company, this kind of internal culture can also support creativity and a broader understanding of how people want to live and travel today.
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Sustainability and wider commitments
Environmental and social focus
Original Travel also highlights a broader sense of responsibility through its foundation, created in 2009. The foundation supports humanitarian and development-focused work in regions including Africa, Asia, and South America. Its five key areas include child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage, and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.
Why this matters
For many modern travellers, values now matter alongside comfort and exclusivity. A company that combines luxury travel planning with social and environmental awareness may appeal more strongly to clients who want their travel choices to feel responsible as well as rewarding.
Quick Info
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Original Travel |
| Legal Name | ORIGINAL TRAVEL COMPANY LTD |
| Company Number | 04437204 |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Incorporated | 13 May 2002 |
| Founder & CEO | Tom Barber |
| Co-Founders | Nick Newbury, Alastair Poulain |
| Company Type | Private Limited Company |
| Status | Active |
| Industry | Travel Arrangements |
| SIC Code | 79120 – Tour operator activities |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Registered Office | 27 Greville Street, London, England, EC1N 8SU |
| Company Website | originaltravel.co.uk |
| Work Model | Hybrid workplace |
| Office Expectation | Minimum 3 days per week on-site |
| Specialties | Family travel, safaris, rail holidays, road trips, sabbaticals, diving, Nile cruises, flight-free travel, tailor-made travel |
| Services | Luxury tailor-made holidays, city breaks, family holidays, couples’ getaways, experience-led trips |
| Benefits | Flexible working hours, remote working options, work-from-anywhere weeks |
| Foundation Created | 2009 |
| Foundation Focus | Child protection, vocational training, economic development, heritage preservation, indigenous lifestyles |
Conclusion
Original Travel stands out as a well-established London-based luxury travel company with a clear focus on bespoke service, destination expertise, and carefully crafted experiences. Backed by ORIGINAL TRAVEL COMPANY LTD, the brand combines a strong legal and business foundation with a polished public identity. From tailored family holidays and safaris to rail journeys and sabbaticals, it covers a wide range of travel styles while maintaining a premium feel.
With recognised leadership, a respected market position, flexible workplace culture, and visible social commitments, the company offers more than simple holiday booking. It presents itself as a travel specialist built around thoughtful planning, trust, and individuality, which helps explain why it remains a notable name in the tailor-made travel sector.
