Martin Randall Travel is a cultural tour operator in Britain. It specialises in tours for small groups and classical music festivals.

History edit

Martin Randall Travel was founded by a former art history student in 1988.[1] Its primary focus is the organisation of tours for small groups, led by a lecturer who is an expert in their field. In 1994, the company expanded into producing music festivals to complement their small group tours. The company has four festivals confirmed for 2024 including the Salzburg String Quartet Festival, Mozart Along the Danube, The Divine Office: Choral Music in Oxford, and Opera in Sicily.[2] Their programme for 2024 contains one hundred and seventy tours and events in more than forty different countries.[3]

Critical acclaim edit

Martin Randall Travel focuses on a small clientele and has received favourable reviews. Ian Irvine in The Independent said, "All three... highlights from my life as a cultural tourist were part of the remarkable series of music festivals run by Martin Randall."[4] Christine Headley praised Martin Randall Travel's handling of money – covering most costs and distributing local currency - on the festival she attended.[5] Kenneth Asch wrote in the Travellers' Handbook, "Of all the travel services I have researched, Martin Randall Travel is perhaps the most comprehensive, culturally speaking."[6]

Martin Randall Travel won the British Travel Awards: Best Special Interest Holiday Company (Small) award in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019.[7]

Directors edit

  • Martin Randall, founder
  • Vernon Ellis
  • Neil Taylor
  • Fiona Charrington

References edit

  1. ^ Michael Shmith (October 27, 2005). "Walking, Not Cruising". The Age. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  2. ^ "Martin Randall Festivals | Martin Randall Travel". www.martinrandall.com.
  3. ^ "Holiday types | Martin Randall Travel". www.martinrandall.com.
  4. ^ Ian Irvine (18 April 2004). "All the (Baroque) world's a stage". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-01-12.[dead link]
  5. ^ Christine Headley (1997). "Seven Days in Danubia". Review of The Fourth Austro-Hungarian Music Festival. Archived from the original on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  6. ^ Kenneth Asch. "The Cultural Traveller". The Traveller's Handbook. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
  7. ^ "British Travel Awards 2014". Retrieved 2015-02-04.

External links edit