The Travel Club - the international travel and tourism’s new ‘home from home’ in London - was opened this week in style by Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Attended by nearly 100 members and senior management from the industry, Baumgarten arrived at the private members club in St. James’s Square, London, in his Morgan sports car, known to millions of fans across the world as an icon of classic English racing style.

 

“All those lost CEO’s in travel and tourism will now have somewhere to go in London”, said Baumgarten. “The Travel Club is a wonderful idea, quite unique and prime real estate.”

 

“Undoubtedly, senior management has huge challenges right now”, said Tom Nutley, the club’s managing director who has spent the past three years searching for a suitable building.

 

”Companies and destinations need all the help they can get.”

 

“The industry is in desperate need of a place like this that offers a year-round networking opportunity and a central focus for business, meetings, entertaining, presentations and launches.”

 

“A club that offers the industry all the facilities you would ever need to help you run your business more effectively in London, but at the same time, somewhere that offers an enjoyable, unique, friendly and above all, relaxed club atmosphere.”

 

“It seems that many of you agree with me!”

 

Members Join Worldwide

 

Nutley, former chairman of Reed Travel Exhibitions and the man responsible for the success of well known international industry events such as World Travel Market and Arabian Travel Market said that since late July, when The Travel Club opened its doors for a ‘soft’ opening period, more than a 100 industry professionals have become members.

 

The founder members are from 20 countries and regions including UK, USA, Canada, Egypt, Australia, Dubai, Thailand, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Jordan, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Russia

 

“We are finding that the club is particularly attractive to management who, because of unacceptably high costs in the capital, no longer has

a London presence“, said Nutley.

 

The Travel Club is sharing its magnificent Grade 11 Listed 17th century building with the Naval & Military Club, known universally as the ‘In & Out’.

 

The club has 49 bedrooms, two bars, first-class restaurant, library, courtyard and a number of large and small meeting and function rooms. There is also a swimming pool, gym and squash court.

 

Nutley said that membership of the club is affordable and convenient with lower catering costs than an average quality hotel in the heart of London. A three-course light lunch with a glass of champagne, for example, is £20 a head.

 

Joining fee is £250 with the cost of annual membership starting at £250 for overseas members and from £645 for members living and working in the UK, including VAT.

 

The Travel Club, first of its kind in the world, is planning a programme of social events and meetings during the coming months.