Abercrombie & Kent resides at the pinnacle of the travel industry. A&K's brand, perhaps more than that of any other tour operator, defines luxury travel.
But A&K was never just a luxury travel company. Though it's a foregone conclusion that A&K will offer the highest grade of products and services, A&K is about a great deal more than creature comforts and expensive commodities.
"You talk about luxury travel, in some ways it's a bad label," said Geoffrey Kent, "What is actually happening is people want experiences today, real experiences handled in a perfect logistical manner, so you can do the experiences without worrying about the dangers. They want to be completely safe. They want it to run like a swift clock. And they want it done in luxury. They don't want to be that uncomfortable."
High adventure has always been at the core of the A&K DNA from its founding in 1962 by Geoffrey Kent and his parents Colonel John and Valerie as a safari outfitter in Kenya.
"When I invented the first mobile tent safari in 1966, that was the beginning of what we're seeing today," said Kent. "That was the first real experiential trip, with comforts because we had electric lights and en suite showers. We were the first to find gorillas and arrange gorilla tracking safaris in Congo and so on. Now all these years later people have realized that this is the way to go. And because we invented it, I think we're riding that wave right now."
There is no other tour company like A&K, with its unique structure of 50 destination management companies (DMCs) around the world and more than 3,000 employees. Through that global network, A&K can provide a luxury cocoon to keep its clients comfortable and secure, while offering them the highest orders of immersion and adventure at every destination.
"Luxury travel today is all about experiential travel," said Kent. "It's not just luxury. If they hire a villa, they want experiences around the villa. It has changed dramatically. In the old days luxury was lying on a ship. Or it was all about restaurants and a la carte meals. That's all changed. Now it's all about experiences, which have to run flawlessly. And they have to be comfortable. You can't do this unless you have a DMC network that is integrated with your sales and marketing companies. You just can't arrange it. It's too difficult. I don't believe anyone else has it, not on a global scale that goes from ships to Antarctica to ships in Galapagos, to camps in Africa, to ships in Egypt, all our guides and vehicles and buses."
A&K offers luxury of the highest order, travel to the most exotic destinations in the greatest comfort, empowered with access and the means to have the most authentic and immersive experiences at the destination. Comfort is a given, but that is only a starting point. The company delivers the high adventure of transformative travel experiences in the most exotic and adventurous places on earth.
A&K's DMC network around the world makes it a local operator wherever you are.
"Luxury is being able to have that insider access and the experiential components of travel that have always been important, but we keep getting more creative as days go by and as opportunities arise" said Phil Otterson, president of A&K USA. "With our destination management offices around the world, I don't have to call somebody I don't know very well and say, 'What can I do in Marrakech?' I can just call our colleagues and say, 'Find me something really exciting.' They live there, and around the corner they know what's going on, just like I understand what is happening in Chicago. It makes it a lot more available for our guests."
A&K has maintained a leading position in the industry for decades and has been either the first or one of the few to ever offer innovations in travel such as private jet travel, gorilla trekking and voyages to Galapagos and Antarctica.
Through the efforts of Jorie Butler Kent, A&K has also been at the forefront of conservation and philanthropic work through Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy.
A&K offers its services in a variety of styles, including Luxury Small Group Journeys, with a maximum of 18 guests and maximum luxury; Connections Small Group Journeys, with maximum 24 guests and an emphasis on value for money; family programs; river cruises; barge cruises; luxury expedition cruises; private jet trips (now with lie-flat seats); and customized Tailor Made Travel.
What holds these diverse offerings together is A&K's consistent dedication to service.
"Our company is all about service," said Otterson. "The price point varies based on the product that one would choose. But the service is very consistent throughout our product lines. We have the same people on the ground and in our sales team who are assisting our guests, whether it be a pre-booking a booking or during the travel itself."
Luxury today is being able to experience the destination your way.
"Luxury is being able to do whatever you want to do," said Otterson. "It's the luxury of access. It's sitting in a car or van with two or three or four or five people, going where you want to go. If you don't know where you want to go someone is taking you where you want to go anyway. It's about being able to be a local and see things that locals see, and to stay away from the madding crowd and enjoy the luxury of access."
Otterson sees the selection of A&K for two Travvy Awards as an affirmation on the highest level of A&K's services.
"We are especially gratified to receive this vote of confidence from our partners in the travel agent community," he said. "As professional advisors, they are in the best position to compare the products and services offered by various suppliers. In the past three years we have made major investments in technology, staff training and development, all designed to better meet their needs. They recognize - as we do -- that the future of luxury travel is about taking iconic destinations and offering them in a fresh way, through curated experiences and authentic adventures."
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