TTC 100

From our generations to yours

REFLECTING

On the journey ahead

Dear Traveler,

I write to you during this extraordinary time, for the world as a whole and for those of us who love to travel. It was also Earth Month in April, as people around the globe confront this pandemic, we realize more than ever how connected we are, to each other and to our planet. It is also so edifying to see ways our planet is healing, as we all pause our activities – our air is cleaner in most cities, Venice’s canals are clearer than they’ve been for decades, and, for the first time in 40 years, one can see from Punjab to the Himalayas.

On behalf of our family as well as all the team members of TTC’s family of brands, I send you and your loved ones wishes for safety and health. We also wish to express our deepest gratitude to the many who are working as first responders through this crisis, in hospitals and clinics around the globe, as well as those working in supermarkets, transportation, education and all the essential services that allow us to care for one another. Your work, bravery, and dedication is appreciated now, more than ever.

For so many of the rest of us, the best we can do at this point is to shelter in place. Naturally, this has meant putting our travel plans on hold, as the safety and wellbeing of our guests is, and always will be, our highest priority. Still, this is disappointing for all of us, as these travel plans have often been years in the making. As travelers, we are inclined to be active, pursue adventures, explore the world and impact it in a positive way, and it is difficult to feel as though we are having an impact by staying home. Yet, as each of us tries to slow the spread of this virus, it is what we must do.

For everyone at TTC, this crisis comes at a poignant time, in the midst of commemorating the 100^th anniversary of our founding in 1920. Needless to say, this is not how we envisioned celebrating. Being in the travel business for a full century, however, has taught us many lessons, chief among these being to always take the long term view. When navigating challenging times I quote the words my father, Stanley Tollman, who is 89 years old and serves as Chairman of TTC, often says to me. They are words that he, in turn, is passing on from his father and TTC’s founder, Solomon Tollman, who was, in turn, quoting the wise and true words uttered by his namesake, King Solomon: This too shall pass.

And so it shall. There will come a time, hopefully in the near future, when the gates of travel will open again, perhaps first for domestic and then for international travel. When they do, there will be a great deal of additional healing to be done around the world, for the many who have had their lives and livelihoods upended by this virus. In this process of restoring our world, I believe that responsible and conscientious travel will play an essential role. So many people and families around the globe make their living through the travel and service industry. Just as they are now suffering the secondary impact of this pandemic, so will there be secondary responders – travelers, such as you and me. We will be the ones who return to dine in their restaurants, stay in their hotels, and visit their sights. We will be doing what travel does best: connecting people around the world. Responsibly – we should all now recognize that we cannot take travel for granted. We can and need to do it better in the future, so as to make travel matter more than ever.

Both TTC and The TreadRight Foundation exist to make travel personal and make travel matter. Looking to the future of travel, I believe both of these will become even more important. As travelers, we will return strengthen the bonds that connect us to people all over the world, and travel will matter more than ever.

For the time being, we wish you and yours health and safety. When that time comes, we look forward to doing what we love to do – offering you the most amazing travel experiences to be found throughout the world.

Brett Tollman

Chief Executive – TTC

Explore our story

1920

Solomon Tollman opens The Paternoster Hotel in a sleepy fishing village on the west coast of South Africa. After escaping the Czarist oppression in Lithuania – smuggled by train and and sailing in the hull of a ship – he gives travelers the welcome he had never known, introducing the family creed “Driven by Service.”

1938

Solomon Tollman and his wife, Evelyn, move to Johannesburg, where he purchases The Palace Hotel.

1954

Solomon and Evelyn’s son, Stanley, marries Bea Lurie. The new Mr. & Mrs. Tollman spend the money they receive from their wedding on their first venture – the Nugget Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa.

1955

The Tollmans purchase the newly renovated Hyde Park Hotel, pursuing their dream of opening the first world class restaurant in Johannesburg. They succeed in grand style with The Colony Super Club.

1969

Stanley Tollman purchases Trafalgar Tours with Kenneth Bates, and the two remain partners until 1983.

1969

The Tollmans build Tollman Towers, with the interior designed by Bea Tollman. It becomes the finest hotel in Johannesburg and the first 5-Star all-suite property in Africa.

1970

Bea Tollman creates the ‘Tollman T’ crest.

1970

The Tollmans gather their holdings into Tollman Hotels and Tourist Industries, Ltd.

1975

The Tollmans welcome their newest addition, The Montcalm Hotel in London. Known as the Rock & Roll hotel, it hosts guests ranging from Rod Stewart to ABBA, and from The Rolling Stones to The Beatles.

1976

Unable to tolerate apartheid, the Tollman family divests themselves of their South African assets and moves to London.

1977

Mike Ness joins Trafalgar Tours as Managing Director.

1978

Stanley’s brother, Arnold Tollman, becomes Head of Trafalgar Tours, USA.

1980

Costsaver, operated by Trafalgar Tours is launched.

1984

The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel in London is welcomed into the company.

1987

Tracon House, in Manly, becomes the company’s first Australian office.

1989

The Chesterfield Palm Beach Hotel, joins the company as the first property within the United States.

1989

Contiki joins the company as their first youth travel brand.

1990

Mike Ness becomes CEO of Trafalgar Tours and Contiki.

1991

The company officially becomes The Travel Corporation – TTC. Though the name has changed over our first century, the creed of “Driven by Service” has never varied.

1991

Insight Vacations is welcomed into TTC’s family of brands.

1991

Evan Evans Tours is welcomed into TTC’s family of brands.

1994

Destination America joins TTC’s family of brands.

1996

Bea Tollman founds The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, as The Montague on the Gardens Hotel in London is welcomed into the group.

1996

TTC welcomes AAT Kings into the family of brands, bringing travelers to Australia and New Zealand.

1996

Deepening its roots in Africa, TTC makes its first investment in Wilderness Safaris.

1997

TTC welcomes the Rubens at the Palace, London into the collection as a Red Carnation Hotel.

1997

Stanley Tollman launches Busabout, TTC’s innovative new approach to youth travel.

1998

TTC welcomes The Milestone Hotel, London into the collection as a Red Carnation Hotel.

2000

TTC Opens Hotel 41 in London as a Red Carnation Hotel.

2000

Investing in post-apartheid South Africa, the Tollman family purchases Bouchard Finlayson winery of Cape Town. It produces some of the finest wines in Africa, many are served to TTC’s travelers.

2001

TTC welcomes Hotel d’Angleterre in Geneva Switzerland, a Red Carnation Hotel.

2001

TTC welcomes the Radical Travel Group, including HAGGiS and Shamrocker Adventures into the family of brands.

2002

TTC welcomes the Twelve Apostles Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa into the collection as a Red Carnation Hotel.

2002

TTC acquires a majority of Cullinan Holdings shares.

2003

TTC welcomes Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorset into the collection as a Red Carnation Hotel.

2003

TTC welcomes Atlas Reizen, African Travel, Inc., Lionworld Travel and Grand European Tours into the family of brands.

2004

TTC welcomes Uniworld, the world’s first river cruise line. With Bea Tollman as its guiding visionary, it becomes the world’s best river cruise line.

2004

TTC welcomes Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Resort, Cederberg Mountains, South Africa into the collection as a Red Carnation Hotel.

2005

TTC welcomes the Egerton House Hotel, London into the collection as a Red Carnation Hotel.

2006

54 years after their memorable date at The Oyster Box, Stanley fulfills the dream he shared with Bea that night, purchasing the hotel. With their daughter, Toni, as architect, Bea oversees the painstaking restoration of this Red Carnation Hotel.

2006

TTC welcomes Brendan Vacations into the family of brands, bringing travelers to Ireland and Scotland.

2008

The Travel Corporation launches TreadRight, originally called “The Conservation Foundation.” Partnering with all of TTC’s brands and our travelers, it ensures that we Make Travel Matter – for People, for Wildlife and for the Planet.

2010

Mike Ness passes the torch to Brett Tollman who becomes Chief Executive of TTC.

2010

Bea Tollman, whose recipes are so beloved at Red Carnation Hotels and on Uniworld’s Ships, publishes her all-time-favorite Recipes in ‘A Life in Food’.

2011

TTC welcomes the Duke of Richmond Hotel, Guernsey into the collection as a Red Carnation Hotel.

2012

TTC launches Inspiring Journeys in Australia and New Zealand.

2012

Stanley Tollman inspires the launch of new TTC global brand Luxury Gold, “Bringing Back the Golden Era of Travel.”

2012

Stanley Tollman publishes his memoir, ‘Recollections of a Lucky Man’. The cover image shows Stanley, age 3, at The Paternoster Hotel.

2012

Bea Tollman is awarded ‘Hotelier of the Year’ at the 2012 European Hospitality Awards.

2013

TTC restores the magnificent Ashford Castle, Ireland, to a hitherto unseen level of glory, opening it as a new Red Carnation Hotel.

2013

TTC welcomes Australia-based Adventure World Travel to the family of brands.

2013

TTC welcomes Old Town, Orlando, Florida into the family of brands.

2013

Stanley Tollman is awarded the Travel Weekly Globes ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.

2013

Brett Tollman is featured in the book ‘I Am Eco Warrior; From the Frontlines to the Sustainability Revolution’.

2015

AAT Kings headquarters is purchased in Sydney, Australia.

2016

Bea Tollman is awarded the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award from the Cateys.

2018

TTC launches U River Cruises, the world’s first river cruise line for the young and young at heart.

2019

Bea Tollman is awarded the Travel Weekly Globes ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.

2019

Costsaver becomes a standalone brand from Trafalgar.

2019

TTC USA opens their new headquarters in Cypress, California.

2020

Coming in 2020! TTC to open Xigera Safari Lodge, Botswana, a Red Carnation Hotel.

100 Year Stories

All Star Guest Stories

Our First Century

our 100 year stories

JANUARY

Driven by Service

Read Blog

FEBUARY

Valentine’s Day

Read Blog

MARCH

International Women’s Day

OUR NEXT 100 YEARS

Looking towards a bright future together

JULY

International Friendship Day

AUGUST

TTC’s 100th Birthday

SEPTEMBER

World Tourism Day

MEET SARAH

Travel Styles

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