I’m Paul Southgate, and for a decade, I was the managing director of the UK’s top luxury travel company – specialising in bespoke city escapes and spa retreats that elevated relaxation beyond the usual soggy towel and Enya playlist.
My career is a cocktail of travel, events, and a splash of digital. It all kicked off at 17 with a summer gig at a major UK balloon festival, where I went from helping out to serving on the event committee. Picture it: one of the UK’s largest free outdoor events, and I was the guy organizing it before I was old enough to order a drink.
Next, I took on a role in travel and events just as budget airlines were getting people to Europe for less than the price of a round of pints. Later, I switched gears, moving into the digital sphere as a director for client services at an agency specializing in online communities and engagement.
But in 2011, I decided to return to the travel sector and set up shop in luxury holidays. What started as a passion project quickly became a £1m-a-year enterprise by 2019, the go-to in the UK for those who treat luxury travel less as an escape and more as a lifestyle essential.
The Travel Critic 