Welcome to Walpole

Jules Maury introduces Scott Dunn Private

Learn a little more about our latest Walpole member, high-net-worth travel specialists Scott Dunn Private, in our interview with the Head of Scott Dunn Private Programme, Jules Maury
19th Dec 2022
Welcome to Walpole Jules Maury introduces Scott Dunn Private

Our latest Walpole member, Scott Dunn Private, curates the very best in experiential luxury travel. Established in 1986 by Andrew Dunn, Scott Dunn began with a simple idea to revolutionise ski holidays for the luxury traveller. In 2007, Scott Dunn Private was created as an exclusive invitation-only community for the company’s most discerning guests, giving them unparalleled access to a black book of contacts ranging from the curator of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Jerusalem to one of Zimbabwe’s most experienced safari guides.

 

Scott Dunn Private's team of global expert is headed up by Jules Maury, an avid globetrotter and four-times winner of the Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist Award. Here, she tells us a bit more about the company...

 
 
 
 

Tell us about the history of your brand...

Jules Maury: Founded by Andrew Dunn in 1986, Scott Dunn began with a simple idea to revolutionise ski holidays for the luxury traveller. Since then, we have evolved into one of the world’s leading luxury tour operators with a global team of travel specialists working from our offices in London, San Diego and Singapore. In 2007, we felt there was a huge opportunity to offer an elevated travel planning experience to our most discerning, well-travelled guests and created Scott Dunn Private – an invitation-only membership service that gives these loyal guests a personal relationship manager who plans a lifetime of journeys for them, opening doors to the inaccessible through our ultra-exclusive black book of contacts in every corner of the world.

What is your brand best known for?

Put simply, Scott Dunn Private is best known for curating the world’s most extraordinary luxury travel experiences. With our company’s foundations built in the Alps, ski is always going to be a core part of our business at Scott Dunn and is something people still associate strongly with us. We also operate a brilliant range of Scott Dunn Explorers kids clubs in some of the world’s best luxury resorts across the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Alps, and we excel at crafting family adventures for guests of all ages.

What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?

An exciting turning point for us was in 2014 when we were acquired by private equity firm Inflexion. Backed by their investment, this significant milestone allowed us to grow our overseas presence into three global offices and expand our breadth of destination knowledge – developing a curated collection of properties and experiences across every continent. We’re now in a place of continued growth, expanding our expert team of travel specialists around the world who offer our guests seamless 24/7 service. In recent years, we have also created several measurable commitments to sustainability and are on a continual journey towards becoming a more responsible business, currently supporting two incredible charities – TreeSisters and Mary’s Meals.

Why do you love the brand?

What I love most about Scott Dunn Private is that people are at the heart of everything we do. Every single trip we plan begins by getting to know our guests on a deep level – finding out their desires, dreams, quirks, and passions. By really listening to our guests, we can go above and beyond to craft a journey that is truly unique and will leave them with lifelong memories to cherish. We take on the role of genie, using our insider knowledge, local contacts and brilliant partners around the world to make magic happen. From surprising a car fanatic with a vintage Aston Martin on his honeymoon in the Tuscan countryside to designing a treasure hunt through Egypt’s Karnak Temple led by a renowned Egyptologist for some young guests, we have created the most extraordinary moments.

Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?

The most important thing to remember is that luxury means something completely different to each person. For me, it’s hopping on a private jet to St Barth’s for a week of relaxation and incredible food with my closest friends, but for others, it’s trekking through the Rwandan wilderness to encounter a family of mountain gorillas or learning the art of Zen meditation from a Buddhist monk in rural Japan.

Having the luxury of time is something that eludes most of our guests, so the most valuable gift we can give them is taking away all the hassle involved in planning a holiday, simply listening to their requests, and delivering an exceptional travel experience that exceeds their expectations every time.

What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?

Walpole represents the best in British luxury, so it was a natural fit for Scott Dunn Private. The scope and range of members across so many different sectors from fashion to food and interior design drew my interest, as so many of the Walpole member brands extend into the realm of luxury travel.

If you could collaborate with another Walpole member, which one would you choose?

Leading on from my point above, I feel there are such strong synergies between Scott Dunn Private and other Walpole members. We already have wonderful partnerships with several Walpole brands including the fabulous Gleneagles, OutThere magazine, and LINLEY (who co-hosted a recent event for our Scott Dunn Private members in their beautiful Belgravia store) to name a few. Looking to the future, we would love to collaborate on more member events with the likes of Bowmore, Rolls-Royce, Historic Royal Palaces – the list is endless!

Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months?

The coming year will be an exciting time for us as we focus on building stronger connections with our members and the global travel community. Events are a huge part of this, and we’ve got quite a few exciting plans in the pipeline – everything from wine tastings to an evening talk at the Royal Geographical Society with an intrepid polar explorer. I'm also excited about our small group trips, which I and my counterpart in the US will be hosting in Morocco, Paris and the Galapagos. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring together our like-minded members on a fun, luxurious and experience-filled journey.

Connect with Jules Maury on LinkedIn.

To learn more about the Scott Dunn Private, visit scottdunn.com

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