We’re delighted to be celebrating 70 years of Specialised Travel, making us the longest running concert touring company in the UK. From our origins in post-war Europe to our position as the world’s leading performing arts travel company, we take this opportunity to reflect on the history and achievements that have shaped our organisation over the decades.
The origins of Specialised Travel can be traced to the Marshall Plan, a far-sighted and generous US initiative to invest heavily in the regeneration of Europe after the Second World War. STL’s founder, Micha Battsek, had arrived as a boy from Berlin in the 1930’s. His father, a highly respected banker, continued his career in the City of London; Micha was schooled in London and at Cambridge. Keen to start his own business, he hired as his partner Harry Baum, who had also arrived as a boy in the 30’s; in Baum’s case on a Kindertransport from Vienna. Both men had met a range of motivated and concerned academics who were keen to play their part in the rebuilding of Europe.
The early business – before the arrival of jet aircraft on the Atlantic – consisted of lengthy tours of Europe for large “affinity groups” of US students, often given as a graduation present from College or High School. In addition, annual study programmes for US Universities were set up. The tourism company (STOP Tours) had headquarters in Berkeley, Calif and the academic programmes (ACFEA) at Penn State University. In 1955 the company organised a 6-week European Tour for the choir from Penn State and so the company’s involvement in music touring began. A retail travel agency was opened in Marylebone High Street with administrative offices nearby.
The advent of the Boeing 747 in 1970 put an end to “affinity touring” as individual low-cost fares were introduced, and US students started to travel regularly and independently. Choir tours and study programmes continued under Battsek; Harry Baum moved into new fields – conferences, corporate meetings and incentive travel. His company was “spun off” and named Spectra Travel – a reference to Specialised Travel’s well known cable address. It is said that Baum introduced the concept of incentive travel to Europe. Spectra still thrives as a Destination Management Company and, before his death, Baum was made an MBE for services to travel.
In the 70’s, Specialised Travel began working with UK professional ensembles for their requirements, the first client being the Academy or St Martin in the Fields. ACFEA hired its first employee based in the USA, triggering a considerable expansion of the number of music tours to Europe it operated each year. A further office was added on the West Coast and representatives appointed in key touring countries of Europe.
Specialised Travel was bought by Richard Savage in 1983 and remains in second generation private ownership. Its involvement in both its major areas – concert tours for amateur ensembles and travel arrangements for professionals – has grown substantially to the point where it can now claim to be the world’s leading provider of such “specialist” services. Its operations are now worldwide and very much year-round, relying on its highly experienced, long-serving staff, and excellent relations with loyal clients and suppliers alike.
