Luxury travel veteran Roy Collett is celebrating his golden anniversary in the industry this month.
His business, Colletts Travel, has been trading under Global Travel Collection UK, a division of Internova Travel Group, since its sale to the group in 2017.
Collett has remained in the business as brand ambassador.
Global Travel Collection celebrated his career at an event in The Dorchester, London, with bosses from parent company Internova Travel Group leaders, including chairman Mike Batt, chief financial officer Rob Klug, and GTC president Angie Licea, alongside travel partners, colleagues and friends.
Collett started as a junior office assistant with Peltours where duties included hand delivering client tickets. From there, he trained with Iata and expanded into business travel.
Colletts Travel launched in Hendon, London, in 1983. Collett ran the business until 2000 when he brought colleague and friend Michael Berlin onboard as a partner.
Last year, he launched a B2B tour operating division, Colletts Collection, which services Internova Travel Group businesses.
Collett said: “After five decades in travel, experiencing numerous changes and challenges, there’s still no other industry I’d rather be in.
“Travel has been my life, and I’ve been fortunate to have such a wonderful family supporting me along the way.
“Some of my children even caught the travel bug; my daughter, Jodie, works for an Indian Ocean DMC and Alex, my stepson, has made his own way as an IC [Independent Contractor] trading as Seven Icons under the Colletts Travel division.
“I started Colletts Travel with the intention of disrupting the luxury market – placing a value on service like no other agency could offer at the time.
“Looking at how we’ve far we’ve come over the years, I’d say we’re still finding ways to disrupt, evolve and innovate.”
Jason Oshiokpekhai, managing director of Global Travel Collection, said: “You simply can’t recreate the type of knowledge, expertise and passion that comes from a 50-year career like Roy’s.
“His ongoing contribution to Colletts Travel and the wider industry through offering mentorship and sound advice brings tremendous value to Global Travel Collection and our clients.
“We’re very proud to have him as part of our family and to be celebrating his achievements together.”
Main picture, from left: Jason Oshiokpekhai, Global Travel Collection UK; Roy Collett, founder and brand ambassador, Colletts Travel; and Mike Batt, chairman of Internova Travel Group.