Here at 101 Holidays, we like to get to know the people behind the world’s finest travel companies. This week we talk to Andrew Dunn, the owner and founder of leading luxury tour operator Scott Dunn.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Scott Dunn operates luxury ski chalets in the Alps, fully-staffed villas and exclusive children’s clubs in the Mediterranean, through to unforgettable tailor-made holidays worldwide. Having recently handed over day-to-day operational responsibilities to managing director Simon Russell, Andrew now leads Scott Dunn’s business development activities and oversees all aspects of guest loyalty and brand enhancement. Andrew lives in West Sussex with his wife and two daughters.
* Where did you go on holiday this year, and why?
This summer my family and I stayed at Daios Cove in Crete to see our new Scott Dunn children’s club. We also travelled to Hossegor in western France to learn to surf! Skiing with family and friends is always an important part of our holiday time and this year I was fortunate enough to stay in our Flagship Chalet Artemis on two occasions and also ski Courchevel 1850. Further afield, we enjoyed a great week at the Viceroy in Anguilla.
* What is your favourite bolthole in the UK, and why?
As I now live in Chichester, West Wittering on the south coast is a firm favourite. My mother-in-law has a house on the beach there.
* If you could spend a long weekend in any city abroad, which would you pick, and why?
A long weekend in Venice, as it is a city I’ve yet to experience.
* Please tell us three items that are always found in your luggage.
Practical but always essential – my laptop, adaptor and phone charger
* What one thing would most improve people’s overall holiday experience?
Travelling from A to B in the quickest time possible, with zero fuss. This is where the travel experience more often than not breaks down, adding stress and frustration to any holiday. It is also the time when, as a tour operator, we are there to help pick up the pieces for our guests.
* What has been your worst holiday experience?
Prior to starting our luxury-staffed Mediterranean villa programme, I booked a villa holiday in Mallorca. We arrived to find that we could not get into our villa and when we called the representative’s number on our itinerary for assistance, they informed us they hadn’t been working for the company for over a year! Needless to say we had to break in and that’s when I decided Scott Dunn could do this much better!
* Tell us your favourite hotel: in the UK; in mainland Europe; in the rest of the world.
The Mandarin Oriental in London; I celebrated my 40th at Mont Cervin Palace in Zermatt and Constance Halaveli in the Maldives, where we all learnt to dive a few years ago.
* What is the most exciting project your company is working on right now?
This year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary. It is a proud milestone for Scott Dunn since our first ski season in 1986. The expansion of our exclusive Scott Dunn children’s clubs throughout the world is one of our most exciting projects, following the successful launch at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus and Daios Cove, Crete this summer.
* Thank you, Andrew
