About Us

Company Ethos

Our emphasis is to implement and build Nature Tourism both in the UK and Worldwide for Operators, Organisations and Regions (Principals) from UK and International clientele (leisure and corporate) including the independent traveller, groups and via national and international tour operators. This is done so as to provide sustainable travel and tourism packages through Nature Tourism. Plus we give Principals the necessary tools and structure to supply responsible tourism services and increase visitor numbers through: sustainable tourism development, corporate development and marketing and product development on new and existing product within strict budget criteria.

It is also important to note that sustainable use of natural resources is paramount to the work we do, in that, any development of tourism should be compatible with both people and nature and ensure we not only develop responsibly but also conserve the natural resources both for the present day and for the future.

To expand further, our commercial expertise includes: corporate development, management of sustainability and conservation, product and project planning and development, sales and marketing, strategic direction (marketing and financial budgeting), operational development and perhaps most importantly to implement and build the brand, the project or event to gain momentum and long term growth from a clear direction. To build this RS can also work closely with UK Tour Operators and Agents (Travel Trade) to integrate this model into their product for domestic tourism and from overseas Operators for inbound UK tourism; as well as having a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the UK independent and group travel markets.

Director

The main Director Richard Stones (RS) has worked in the Travel Industry since a teenager and at the age of 25 was General Manager UK for one of the World's top International Language Schools and Tour Operators (based in Sweden) moving on to become the UK Director of a German Travel company.  These roles meant RS managing the Companies Operations in the UK, including responsibility for all contracting, new and existing destination management and management/leadership of international staff.  Then after quite a few years working Richard decided to take out two years and studied for an MBA at Exeter University. On gaining the MBA RS worked in the Holiday Park Industry as the Marketing Director for one of the best, high quality Holiday Park Operators in the UK, and worked on building and implementing a major sales and marketing directive and a new Sales & Marketing Plan that increased sales and 'raised the marketing to another level' (statement from Sonia Meaden, one of the owners of the Company) contributing to the company's ongoing success.  The company grew from strength to strength and in 1994 - due to Richard's entrepreneurial flair - he left this role with the support of the Directors and started up his own business Short Breaks Direct (SBD), working with Domestic UK Hotel and Accommodation Providers, specialising in the leisure and corporate markets. This started from a spare bedroom and grew steadily to million pounds turnover and one of the well respected operators.

As well as building SBD, RS also built an ABTA and ATOL Bonded Travel Agency and Tour Operator specialising in selling short breaks to Worldwide Hotels and a new specialist area of Adventure Travel. Over the years RS has been involved with many business and tourism disciplines and employing or working with strong teams to deliver successful results for companies both as Proprietor (MD) and Advisor. Today RS works with many of the World's top Tourism & Travel Operators, Tourism Organisations, Attractions, Universities and In Country Handling Agents and Guides to develop sustainable nature and adventure tourism. RS is a keen mountaineer and trekking expert as well as being a bushcraft practitioner, having been involved in wilderness and remote living/survival skills - RS is also a qualified Advanced Remote Expedition First Aider. RS is researching a PhD at University of Exeter (part-time) on Corporate Development In Nature & Protected Areas.

RS says, " I have a love of the Outdoors, Landscapes, Nature and Adventure and in particular the life and work of John Muir and the development and ideals of National Parks and Wild Areas. There is nothing more rewarding in business than to work in a discipline or sector that is effectively your hobby, which Tourism is for me."

Building businesses requires vision and lateral thinking, RS has done this and has worked in many areas of travel and tourism and now is utlising this expertise to work with companies in travel, tourism and the outdoors.

Please see Sectors/Clients to view the types of Client we work with and our areas of expertise.