Blog
March 2
I am an official Mum - Ultrapreneur. Last week I attended the book launch for MUM Ultrapreneur, which is a guide to discover the 8 essential secrets to starting, running and building a successful mum-based business. It has been a real priviledge to have participated in Susan's and Mark's research and this book is a real help to anyone looking to start up in business whilst juggling family life. Buy your copy now! See www.mum-ultrapreneur.com
2010 has started really well with a well earned break - doing research - ho ho! at the Six Senses resort of Soneva Kiri in the Gulf of Siam. A truely stunning resort with some outstanding accommodation. I love the company's ethos of slow life and their intelligent luxury. See www.sixsenses.com
November 26
We have had a busy couple of months in the shop. October was the month when the travel writing competition deadline came. The judges Jenny Landreth, Matt Glover and my good self had an extremely hard task of finding the winner. The standard of work was outstanding. After much thought, the winner was chosen. A pupil from Macaulay Church of England School - Kate Sparrow year 5. Well done to Kate! The school was awarded with two travel reference books for the library and each shortlisted pupil recieved a certificate or their efforts. November saw the World travel market at Excel come and go. I attended and got overwelmed as ever. It has been interesting to get to meet people behind the Green Circuit - the likes of the team at The Blue Yonder and Grass Routes Journeys and Help Tourism as well as a catch up with Travel Pledge project manager Nick. I met a couple of people who are on the recieving end of the projects we support in Pretoria and their bike maintance projects.
We have just got our mailing ready with the latest Travel Matters magazine. Look out for it on your doorsteps in the next few days. Do drop us an email if you want a copy.
September 23
The children are well and truely back to school now with the term starting well. I visited one of our schools who use our fundraising scheme yesterday to talk to the year twos about the travel agency. We focused on important information you need with you when on holiday - passports, driving licences, insurance details. Some of their suggestions that they should not leave home without were their toothbrushes, suitcases and DS games. We looked at different time zones, seasons, visas, innoculations. More importantly we looked at how their behaviour on holiday can affect the people they may meet and the environment. They filled out their Make travel matter worksheets. A fun afternoon was had by all!
July 13
School is in its last week of term. Where is the year going? Some of you have broken up already. I am really chuffed that in the 6 weeks we have been running our school fundraising campaign, we have raised nearly £300. Not bad eh? The campaign will continue into the autumn term, so if you know of any school which will benefit from this fundraising scheme, do contact us and we can register them straight away. Work is moving steadily on our Make Travel Matter project. I am very excited with the relationships we have in place with some tour operators offering ethcial holidays and promoting sustainable travel. Look at the Make Travel Matter pages.
In the meantime, have a great summer!
June 9
At last, I am clearing the decks to develop our schools fundraising campaign. I am thrilled to be working together with some local schools. Many of our clients children attend the local schools involved in our fundraising scheme. When you book your holiday with us, we will donate £10 per person back to the school PTA fundraising schemes.
We learn more about life when we travel than any other time - Contact us today if you are keen for your school to get involved with this fundraising campaign. Registration is straight forward. Simply contact Karen or Catherine in the shop on tel 0208 675 7878 or email info@travelmatters.co.uk
March 31
Interesting to read that Starwood Luxury Collection Hotels and Resorts are doing their bit to support UNICEF. By staying an extra night between March 30 2009 and March 31 2010 in their selected properties, they will donate $1.00 to UNICEF. See www.luxurycollection.com/linger for a list of their participating hotels and properties.
March 27
Been a busy week - Catherine has been away on annual leave. Many of you are collecting your documents and packing your suitcases ready for the great exodus for the Easter holidays. Many schools have broken up now so the area seems more quiet. Less busy car drivers to deal with as I cycle to work! I am very interested to develop some holidays which involve meeting local communities and offer something a little extra from the normal package holiday. We are talking to various charities, exploring how we can work more closely together. I have just read too, that voluntourism - or hands on holidays is now the fastest growing area of adventure touring......perhaps our way of thinking is well timed.