media kit - macs adventure · tailor-made adventures in the uk, europe and around the world.” ......
TRANSCRIPT
Media Kit
“Macs Adventure specialises in self guided walking holidays, cycling holidays and tailor-made adventures in the UK, Europe and around the world.”
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Macs Adventure ........................................................................................................... 2
Facts & Figures ...................................................................................................................... 3
The Team ............................................................................................................................... 5
Why Self Guided? .................................................................................................................. 6
Guided & Group Tours ............................................................................................................ 6
Coming Soon .......................................................................................................................... 6
The Macs Adventure Story ..................................................................................................... 7
Press Releases ...................................................................................................................... 8
Themes and Stories ............................................................................................................... 9
Reviews .................................................................................................................................10
Press & Media Contact ..........................................................................................................10
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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MEDIA KIT
ABOUT MACS ADVENTURE
Founded in 2003, Macs Adventure specialises in self-guided walking, cycling, drive and hike and multi-activity tours in the UK and Europe, plus Worldwide Treks, Climbs and adventures.
With a focus on quality and value, Macs Adventure delivers adventure excellence by offering enriching experiences, top rated customer service, high quality comprehensive route notes and information, baggage transfer, and hand-picked accommodation.
The company has an extensive range of over 350 tours in the UK, Europe and Worldwide. Each is carefully planned to give clients the very best experience of the area they are visiting and showcases the natural beauty, history and culture of each destination.
Macs Adventure’s tailor-made service includes knowledgeable, individual advice from a personal destination and adventure specialist, the ability to start many tours on any date and choose ideal trip length, plus everything arranged for you. We love our tours, are passionate about adventure, and know how to have fun; and that ethos shapes everything we do!
Welcoming over 7000 walking and cycling clients each year, long distance national trails and Camino walking tours the most popular options.
Walking Tours Cycling Tours Camino & Pilgrimage Tours
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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FACTS & FIGURES
HEAD OFFICE
44 Speirs Wharf Glasgow G4 9TH United Kingdom Chief Adventure Officer: Neil Lapping Website: www.macsadventure.com
TOP SELLING HOLIDAYS
West Highland Way, Scotland Scotland's finest long distance walk; towering mountains, tranquil lochs and rushing rivers combine to reward you with a unique and ever changing landscape. The various itineraries include route guidance, accommodation, and baggage transfer allowing walkers to walk the 96 mile West Highland Way in between 4 - 10 days. Camino Frances – Final Stage, Spain This self guided walking tour of the final 113km of the Camino de Santiago from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela allows you to earn your “Compostela” (completed Pilgrim’s passport), as you have walked over 100km. The 6 night itinerary includes accommodation in small rural hotels and hostels, twin/double rooms with en-suite W/C, route guidance, Camino guide, and optional baggage transfer. Danube Cycle Path, Austria Cycle along the renowned Danube Cycle Path from Passau to Vienna alongside the Blue Danube. The Danube Cycle Path from Passau to Vienna is an absolute cycling classic and Europe’s most popular cycle holiday. This 7 night trip includes route guidance, local produce samples, rail transfers as per itinerary, accommodation, and baggage transfer.
Further top selling tours in the UK include the Hadrian’s Wall Path (England), Hadrian’s Cycleway (England), Coast to Coast Walk (England), and Great Glen Way (Scotland).
Further top selling tours in Europe & Worldwide include the Amalfi Coastal Trails (Italy), Tour du Mont Blanc (France), and Walking in Tuscany (Italy)
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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NUMBER OF TRIPS ARRANGED IN 2013
3244 – Year Ending 31st December 2013
PAX IN 2013
7127 – Year Ending 31st December 2013
NUMBER OF FOOTSTEPS TAKEN BY MACS ADVENTURERS IN 2013
1,227,600,000 – (Wow!)
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES COVERED
26 - And Counting!
NUMBER OF TOURS AVAILABLE
350 + - And Counting!
NEW TOURS LAUNCHED IN 2013
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LATEST NEW HOLIDAYS
Hiking in the Bernese Oberland: The Bear Trail Easy to moderate grade alpine hiking with superior accommodation, makes for a wonderfully rewarding holiday in the Swiss Alps. North American Walking & Cycling Explore the diverse landscapes and majestic national parks of the USA and Canada Island Hopping in Croatia: Cycling Split to Dubrovnik There is a buzz about Croatia, and this is a fantastic way to discover the
magic of the country on two wheels.
BEST CAKE ON A MACS ADVENTURE HOLIDAY
Cornish Cream Tea (South West Coast Path) Voted by Destination Specialist Laura Paterson
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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THE TEAM
CHIEF ADVENTURE OFFICER
Neil Lapping Chief Adventure Officer [email protected]
DESTINATION AND ADVENTURE SPECIALIST TEAM LEADERS
Our friendly, expert team of Destination & Adventure Specialists are passionate walkers, cyclists, & travel enthusiasts who understand what makes a fabulous adventure holiday.
Laura Paterson Team Leader: Walking & Cycling in England & Wales Laura is one of Macs Adventure’s longest serving team members. She and her team are experts in all things active in England and Wales. Dan Greenwood Team Leader: Walking & Cycling in Scotland & the Islands Dan’s enthusiasm about Scotland is infectious! His team offer in depth knowledge and guidance about active travel in Scotland. Sophia Marci-Anderson Team Leader: Walking & Cycling in Europe & Worldwide Sophia and her team co-ordinate the diverse range of European & Worldwide walking and cycling holidays, including pilgrimage tours.
PRODUCT, & MARKETING TEAM
Nikki Rickett Product Manager Nikki & her team drive forward the exciting product development plans.
Fran McCann Marketing Executive – Press & Media Contact Fran develops & updates online content & manages marketing campaigns.
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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WHY SELF GUIDED?
A self guided walking or cycling tour is the very best way to travel which we feel can't be beaten for value, experience and enjoyment. Our self guided walking and cycling tours include carefully planned itineraries on the best walking routes in the UK, Europe, & Worldwide, hand picked hotels, inns and B&B's of character, daily door to door baggage transfers, a locally based support team and comprehensive information packs which include turn-by-turn route notes, destination guides and detailed walking maps. A self guided holiday gives you the flexibility to choose your travelling companions, preferred itinerary and travel dates. Our destination and adventure specialists will then work with you to tailor your itinerary, accommodation and activities to match your requirements and ensure you have a wonderful trip. Although you will be travelling independently, at your own pace and free to indulge your own interests and passions, our support team are always only a phone call away in case you need any assistance during your trip.
GUIDED & GROUP TOURS
Macs Adventure also operates a small selection of guided tours, where travelling in a small group may be preferred.
COMING SOON
The Balkans & Beyond Look out for walking & cycling experiences in Croatia, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Slovenia,
Czech Republic, Montenegro, Albania, and Macedonia. Phew!
Scandinavia Explore the rich cultural heritage of Sweden, Norway and Finland, not to mention the world
renowned fjords. We are planning walking tours in Sweden, Norway and Finland, plus
additionally cycling in Finland.
John Muir Trail 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of the founder of the modern conservation movement. In conjunction with the John Muir Festival and launch of the new Scottish Coast to Coast route, the John Muir Way, we are planning to launch a self guided John Muir Way package. Expand Rail & Hike Collection A great format allowing walkers to see and discover more of their destination in the most relaxed way possible! We have already launched the West Highland Rail & Hike tour in Scotland which has proved popular. More to come in Switzerland soon…
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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THE MACS ADVENTURE STORY
“Macs Adventure was founded in the living room of my one bedroom flat on Dumbarton Road in Scotstoun, Glasgow in August of 2003. The idea was simple – we would offer guided walking tours for backpackers in Scotland.
It turns out that backpackers weren’t interested in walking tours and after six months in business my credit card bills had gone from £6000 to £40000. Clearly a rethink was required! I executed a quick pivot and in 2004 we launched a range of guided and self guided walking holidays and weekends in Scotland. Thankfully, these were more successful and we were on our way. The first few years were tough; not least of all because I was walking up to one thousand five hundred miles a year guiding tours, but in 2007 we could afford a full time member of staff and moved into our first tiny office in the Hidden Lane in Glasgow’s characterful West End. In 2008 we expanded our range of walking holidays in England, then in 2009 we added Italy and Spain to our programme. Since then it seems things have been on fast forward. In 2010 we decided to focus purely on self guided walking, cycling and multi activity tours in the UK and Europe. Between 2010 to 2013 we have moved to our current office in Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, taken on board a full team of destination specialists, an office manager, a marketing executive and a two strong product development team. 2013 was as busy as ever with our cycling holidays and European pilgrimage tours going from strength to strength and some really exciting worldwide tours, including North American tours, being added to our portfolio. In 2014 we have already been busy developing new adventure travel formats such as Rail & Hike, and expanding our portfolio of experiential tours such as food & wine focused active breaks. Our plans for 2014 are to continue developing new and existing tours, and of course to continue delivering adventure excellence!”
Neil Lapping Chief Adventure Officer
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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PRESS RELEASES
Windermere on Two Wheels – March 2014
Cycling holidays are big news this year with soaring sales, but not everyone wants to keep up with a group or feel the pressure of peddling on for miles uphill to reach their next bed for the night.
Windermere on two Wheels is a new trip from Macs Adventure, ideal for anyone who wants to try a cycling holiday for the first time.
The six-night self-guided holiday has five days of daily bike rides of between 12 and 22 miles, all designed to take in the best of the Lake District’s beautiful scenery. The rides are leisurely enough so there’s plenty of time each day to stop and enjoy a pub lunch along the way - but far enough to feel that you’ve done a good day’s exercise.
Based in stylish superior-graded guest house accommodation in Windermere for six nights, the rides all start and end from the same place, so there’s isn’t too much packing and unpacking.
The trip starts from 1 April and there are departure dates throughout the spring and summer. The price starts from £435 per person, which includes six nights accommodation in a handpicked guest house in a superior room, breakfast each morning, maps, route plans and information packs. Call 0141 530 8886 or visit macsadventure.com.
Activity holiday chic takes off for 2014 – February 2014
It’s official - walking and cycling holidays are getting glamorous, according to self-guided specialist Macs Adventure. Some of their luxury trips, such as Scotland’s Great Glen Way in Style, have already seen more bookings in the first month of 2014 than in the whole of 2013.
“Demand for boutique places to stay every evening and stunning walks and bike rides by day has been rising for the last few years, but we’ve seen the biggest jump in numbers this January,” said Neil Lapping, chief adventure
officer, Macs Adventure.
The company now has more than 10 new luxury walking and cycling trips in the UK, Europe and selected long-haul destinations including America - and more planned for 2014.
The luxury activity trips now include trekking holidays in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Rick Stein’s hotel in Cornwall, stylish hotels on the Amalfi Coast and chic-cycling in New England.
“The luxury sector has seen the biggest growth since we started the business more than ten years ago. These type of trips are attracting new customers who wouldn’t previously have entertained the idea of putting on walking boots or a cycling helmet - but now see that they can enjoy great dining, chic hotels, shopping and sightseeing with daily walks or rides that capture the most stunning parts of the country.”
Clothing companies such as Nike, Berghaus and Jack Wolfskin are also seeing a trend for new customers who want to look good whilst they’re working out or getting active, with new designs and colours for walking and cycling gear.
One new trip which has seen a buzz of interest since it was introduced last year, is Cornwall in Style, which combines some of the area’s best hotels, including Rick Stein’s in Padstow, with a route mapped out to take in the best sights and attractions along the southern Cornish coast. Further afield the New England Coastal cycling in style trip is also attracting bookings - it is a six-night, seven-day trip starting on Boston and following a path through three different US states, with the first night at the Garrison Inn, Newburyport. For detailed information call 0141 530 8886 or visit macsadventure.com.
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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THEMES AND STORIES
Puglia: See a New Side to Italy One of National Geographic Traveller’s “Best Trips of 2014”, the Puglia region in South East Italy encompasses the heel of Italy’s boot and is bordered by the sea on two sides. See this unique and wonderful corner of Italy on two wheels, cycling on mostly flat routes through areas which resemble an open-air museums in places with remains of ancient civilizations along the way from Romans to Byzantines. Coastal paths, olive-groves, vineyards and white sand beaches and good food along the way make this unspoilt region set to become a gem for cyclists.
Rail & Hike Rail & Hike is possibly the most relaxing way to take a walking holiday! Train travel allows you to admire the unfolding scenery from the comfort of your carriage, anticipating the fabulous walking and hiking which awaits at your destination. See more by joining up hiking trails with outstanding train journeys on a Rail & Hike walking holiday. Our collection contains trips with varying amounts of train travel, from flexible rail options in Switzerland, to a complete Rail based package along the full West Highland Line in Scotland, and more planned… Simon Reeve’s “Pilgrimage” Inspires! A recent BBC series about pilgrimages with Simon Reeve has sparked new interest. Bookings for walking trips to The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Way of St James), have increased by 105 per cent year on year for Macs Adventure. And, in 2013 the company had more enquiries about pilgrimage tours than any other year in its decade in business. Other pilgrimages including the Via Francigena through Italy to Rome, and St Cuthbert’s Way in Northumberland are selling well, and on the back of higher demand new walks such as the Camino Portuguese have been introduced. Activity & Gastronomy Fusion The success of cookery programmes including The Great British Bake Off and Masterchef mean many of us now aspire to a gourmet experience or two both at home and on holiday. This year, more people will want to combine an active holiday on foot or on two wheels with some fabulous tasting experiences in the regions they are visiting. So step up to the fine wines, cheeses, charcuterie and delicious local specialities of France and Italy – among others. Example: Gourmet Barolo Cycling in Italy involves pedalling across the Piedmonte region, where the Slow Food Movement started, and tastings include the prized white truffle and the fine wines of Gavi, Barolo and Barbaroso.
Dedicated to Delivering Adventure Excellence
Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK +44 141 530 8886 | [email protected] | www.macsadventure.com
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REVIEWS
Customer Reviews Site: http://www.macsadventure.com/walking-holidays/category/reviews/ Andalucia: The Sierra de Grazalema 05/03/2014 Review by Steve – Canberra AUS
“Thanks again Mac's Adventures, after doing the West highland way with you last time it was a no brainer to use you guys again for another walk! We thoroughly enjoyed our time walking amongst the mountains and returning to great accommodation each night. We will be using you guys again in the future. Cheers!”
Camino de Santiago Walking Holiday 24/03/2014 Photo & Review by MikeTravels – Miami FL
“The organization by Macs Adventure eliminated any worry about coordinating luggage transfers and booking rooms in unfamiliar places. Each night of the seven day hike was met with clean accommodations, safe locations and very friendly people. It was obvious that thought and consideration was put into scouting out nice places for your guests and we appreciated it. The pre-trip info. as well as the maps and directions were very helpful. Thanks for helping to make a memorable experience that much nicer.”
PRESS & MEDIA CONTACT
Fran McCann Marketing Executive [email protected] +44 (0)141 375 0733
Published March 2014