Inside Travel Group - Building a Brand, Private Equity & Working With Your Best Mate

What does it really take to build a travel business that survives crises, scales globally, and stays true to its purpose?In this episode, Simon and Alistair reveal how they grew a small startup with just £10,000 into a thriving international travel company serving over 16,000 customers a year. From teaching English in Japan to leading a multi-destination brand across Asia, their journey is packed with hard-earned lessons in resilience, strategy, and growth.You’ll learn:• How to turn a niche passion into a scalable global business• The shift from specialist to multi-destination operator• Real strategies for surviving crises like COVID-19 and natural disasters• How to use customer insight and data to drive profit and growth• The role of partnerships, local leadership, and company culture• What it’s really like working with private equity while keeping founder controlThey also share behind-the-scenes insights on navigating the 2011 tsunami, managing uncertainty during the pandemic, and securing major investment - including a landmark partnership with Japan’s Sovereign Wealth Fund.Whether you're:✔️ Starting a travel business✔️ Scaling a tour company✔️ Navigating uncertain markets✔️ Or building a purpose-driven brandThis episode gives you a clear, honest roadmap.Key themes: travel entrepreneurship, startup growth, resilience, scaling a business, sustainable travel, leadership, private equity, crisis managementWho this is for: Travel entrepreneurs, founders, tour operators, startup builders, and anyone passionate about building a meaningful business in a challenging industry.If you found this valuable:Like | Subscribe | Share with someone building their dream businessPodcasts: https://north9.agency/podcasts/LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/north9-agencyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/north9agencyThank you!