“Our commitment to personalised service means we offer genuinely bespoke [travel] solutions, more critical than ever in this volatile year.”

The importance of ‘elsewhere’ has never been more apparent than in the last 10 months, as an altered world has made travel anywhere past the kitchen table difficult. So how does a luxury travel brand navigate such troubled waters? We spoke with Mark Duguid, the Managing Director of Carrier, and a Guru on Walpole’s Power List, to find out more.

Hailing from rural Scotland, venturing far and wide was Mark Duguid’s childhood ambition. Post-graduation, seasons overseas in customer service led to senior commercial roles with leading mainstream travel brands, before Mark made the transition to specialise in the luxury sector by joining Kuoni as commercial director in 2009 and subsequently Carrier as managing director in 2017. In the three years Mark has been at the helm, Carrier has evolved its proposition to deliver truly exceptional experiences which fulfil the needs and goals of today’s luxury traveller, picking up multiple awards along the way.

What does it mean to you to be named a Walpole Power List winner?

As a relative newcomer to Walpole membership, it is an incredible honour to be included alongside such esteemed brands and their leaders.  I have led Carrier for three years now and it has been an absolute pleasure to re-energise a much loved travel brand, so for that to be recognised by an association as illustrious as Walpole is undoubtedly a career highlight.

Why do you think you were named on the list this year?

Carrier clients have always appreciated that we deliver an enhanced holiday experience, but this year, as Covid disrupted all travel plans, their needs were more functional: flexibility, safety and financial security. Our commitment to personalised service means we offer genuinely bespoke solutions, more critical than ever in this volatile year. Plus a strong brand identity and values with human connection at its core also hit the right note at a time when people were looking for principled, honest and real service.  Our approach garnered industry leading feedback and caught the attention of those outside the travel sector too.

carrier.co.uk