Today, Original Travel launches its first issue of new magazine, Original Traveller – the latest in a long line of exciting new developments, which includes a new reservation system with live availability, a new website and new interactive app. 

The bi-annual publication is the brainchild of Original Travel Co-founder and former magazine journalist, Tom Barber (GQ, Esquire, where he was contributing Travel Editor, Tatler) and features a stellar cast of writers, from the current Travel Media Awards Feature Writer of the Year, Stanley Stewart, to best-selling author, historian and podcaster Tom Holland and Conde Nast Traveller's Sustainability Editor Juliet Kinsman. They write about Italy's under-rated Emilia-Romagna region, the history of tourism in Egypt and How to Travel Better, respectively.  

All this alongside examples of the team's unparalleled knowledge of their destinations - in the form of top tips, clever travel hacks, new openings and experiences, regional recipes, cool gear and more - and pictures from some of the hottest photographers in the world.  

Original Travel Co-Founder, Tom Barber says: 'Original Traveller was conceived and written in the depths of the pandemic and was designed to be a celebration of travel's return, so the fact that its launch co-incides with the lifting of the last of the travel restrictions feels particularly serendipitous. The pages are filled with inspiration and beautiful imagery, designed to whet clients' wanderlust and get people booking.' 

He continues: 'The magazine is just one example of how we at Original Travel spent our time and resources during lockdown – fuelling the appetite to travel and planning for the inevitable deluge of bookings when restrictions lifted.' 

Other new initiatives to launch this year include: 

• A new all-encompassing reservations system that allows Original Travel consultants to send out tailormade quotations, packed with bespoke suggestions and based on live availability, all within a couple of hours of an initial conversation. No other tour operator has a comparable tool on the UK market  
• A new interactive app to give clients access to their holiday itinerary, plus local recommendations and a direct link to a dedicated concierge, on hand to help with any element of the trip 
• A new website, featuring new destinations, deeper-cut itineraries and lots of new product, all illustrated with imagery from photographers that is exclusive to us 
• An expanded Concierge network 

Click here to order a copy of the magazine.  

-Ends- 

For more information contact:   

press@originaltravel.co.uk  

020 3582 4990  

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Notes to Editors: 

Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”. 

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Original Travel launched a flexibility pledge that allows clients to change their dates or destination up to 30 days prior to departure. For new bookings made before 30th April 2022 and for departures until 31st December 2022, while you still need to pay a 20% deposit at the time of booking, your final balance is now not due until 30 days before travel (this is usually 60 days). We will also offer you the full flexibility to change the trip up to 30 days prior to departure. You can, for any reason, change your destination to any other, and to any date up until the end of 2022, and there will be no charge. For all bookings where we cannot fulfil the trip due to changes in travel restrictions, we will postpone your trip - again at no charge - to any departure date until the end of 2022, or offer credit against any future departure, or refund all monies paid. 

Original Travel is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd, who are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and who offer a brand new travel insurance policy that includes cover for cancellation or curtailment of a trip due to contracting coronavirus, or through being quarantined or refused permission to travel due to infection or suspected infection. This insurance policy is only valid for travel to countries where there is no FCDO advice against all but essential travel. Full details can be found on a new section on Original Travel's website, entitled 'Coronavirus Confidence'. 

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit. 

Three of our consultants were recognised in Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Travel Specialists list, including Co-founder Tom Barber as family specialist, Jacqui Brooks as Indonesia specialist and Oliver Rodwell as Mexico specialist, giving an excellent snapshot of our expertise. 

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including: 

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.
• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a long weekend to Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.
• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).
• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples.