DERTOUR UK is a collection of 11 award-winning specialist travel brands that, together, champion the extraordinary diversity of travel. Our portfolio encompasses Carrier, CV Villas, Explore Worldwide (B Corp), Inghams, Inntravel (B Corp), Journey Latin America, Jules Verne, Kirker, Kuoni, Santa’s Lapland and Solmar Villas.
Our brands are independently run but united by shared values including exceptional service, authentic experiences and responsible travel. Our expert teams deliver high-quality, tailor-made travel experiences - from luxury villa stays and cultural group tours to adventure travel, walking holidays, ski and unforgettable family trips.
With its UK headquarters in Dorking, DERTOUR UK is proud to be a member of DERTOUR Group, a leading international tourism company with over 100 years of history.
DERTOUR Group encompasses 180+ companies across the world, employs around 13,000 international travel experts and serves millions of guests each year.
Ben is joint CEO of DERTOUR UK. He's spent his career at the intersection of travel, technology and people - building teams, launching digital products and helping businesses grow across international markets. Before joining DERTOUR, Ben was Chief Digital Officer at VFS Global, the world's largest visa services provider, where he led digital transformation across four continents. Prior to that, he held senior roles at Kuoni, helping shape strategy and scale new ventures - experience that gave him both a commercial edge and an entrepreneurial streak. Originally based in Switzerland, Ben recently made the move to the UK with his family. He's genuinely passionate about travel - not just as a business, but as something that changes how people see the world. His focus is on building cultures where people thrive, and creating experiences that customers love.
Matt leads financial strategy and performance across DERTOUR UK's portfolio of specialist travel brands. He started his career in accountancy practice and audit with BDO, before transitioning into industry. He went on to build his career within Kuoni, moving through a range of finance roles before stepping into a broader group role, working closely with leadership teams to support the evolution and growth of the business. Matt has played a key role in shaping the group through M&A, leading acquisitions including Journey Latin America, Solmar Villas and, most recently, the Hotelplan transaction which brought Explore, Inntravel, Inghams and Santa's Lapland into the portfolio. His focus is on using finance as an enabler of change, helping the business move faster, make better decisions and unlock growth opportunities. He is particularly passionate about technology and people, simplifying systems, improving data and insight, and building high-performing teams that partner closely with the business. Matt works closely with leadership teams to align strategy with execution and deliver sustainable performance. He believes that the best outcomes come from combining strong commercial thinking with the right people and smart use of technology, and that finance should sit at the heart of that conversation.
Pete joined CV Villas in 2018 as Head of Marketing, progressing to GM and then MD and playing a key role in evolving the brand's digital and commercial capabilities and supporting its continued growth within the luxury travel market. His career in the villa holiday sector began with James Villa Holidays before moving into senior marketing roles at British Airways Holidays and Kenwood Travel. With a background spanning marketing, digital and technology, he has particular expertise in customer acquisition, digital strategy and using data and innovation to help travel businesses adapt to changing customer behaviours and opportunities. He travelled extensively for a year after university - an experience which cemented his passion for travel and ultimately led him into the industry. Today, travel looks a little different with a young family, but he still enjoys discovering destinations through local food, culture and authentic experiences. Pete is particularly passionate about building high-performing teams, encouraging collaboration and creating a culture focused on development, accountability and continuous improvement.
Mark has spent more than 20 years in tour operating, building his career from the ground up - starting as a holiday rep and gaining first-hand experience of delivering great travel experiences for customers. Over the years, he's taken on a variety of commercial and leadership roles, helping shape strategy and evolve some of the UK's best-known premium and luxury travel businesses. Before returning to Kuoni, he was Managing Director of Carrier, where he led the business through a period of strong growth and repositioning. Mark is genuinely passionate about travel - not just as a business, but as something he's experienced first-hand around the world, both professionally and personally. His focus is on building cultures where people feel engaged and can thrive; and creating experiences that customers truly connect with.
After graduating from the University of Sunderland, Michael Edwards began his career in the travel industry as head of digital marketing for the Flight Centre Group before moving into the advertising industry as General Manager of Columbus Search. He made the move back into travel serving as Product & Marketing Director at lastminute.com.au and travel.com.au from 2007 to 2008 then Group General Manager Product Marketing & Sales at Tourism & Leisure Holdings from 2008 to 2010, and Managing Director EMEA at G Adventures from 2010 to 2013. He then moved to Intrepid Group where he was Regional Director UK for EMEA and later as Chief Growth Officer. Since 2021, Michael has been Managing Director at Explore Worldwide. He took on the additional role of Interim Managing Director at sister company Inntravel in 2025.
John's travel career has been built through a progression of commercial, digital and operational leadership roles, developing a strong grounding in pricing, product strategy and performance management before moving into broader strategic positions. Prior to becoming MD, John held senior roles across Hotelplan Ltd, including Group Commercial Director and Chief Operating Officer, where he expanded his remit across multiple brands and took responsibility for wider operational delivery and strategic execution. He combines commercial focus with transformation leadership, helping modernise systems, strengthen customer experience and align teams around clear growth objectives. John previously held senior roles at Style Holidays, which became part of Thomas Cook; XL Group and Martyn Holidays. John is passionate about evolving established travel brands - balancing heritage with innovation - and building businesses that deliver sustainable, long-term growth in competitive, seasonal markets.
Debbie O'Neill is Managing Director of Jules Verne, where she brings together a strong belief in the value of travel with a focus on people and culture. With over 30 years in the business, she has been closely involved in its evolution, helping to shape its direction while staying true to what matters most. Debbie is known for her thoughtful, people-first approach. She focuses on creating an environment where individuals feel supported, able to contribute and confident to grow. Her leadership is grounded in clarity, trust and a belief that culture plays a central role in delivering meaningful travel experiences. She is also actively involved in the wider travel community, including through her role as Chair of AWTE where she supports personal development and the progression of women in travel. Debbie believes travel has a unique ability to broaden perspectives and foster genuine connection, and she is committed to ensuring that remains at the heart of the experience.
Natasha leads DERTOUR UK's luxury tour operator which specialises in high-value, highly personalised travel for discerning clients and leading travel partners. In over 15 years with Carrier, she moved through brand, marketing and commercial leadership roles before becoming MD. She has played a central role in repositioning the business into one of the UK's most respected names in luxury travel. Today, Carrier operates as a high-end tour operator and concierge, working predominantly with top-tier travel agents and concierge companies, as well as directly with high-net-worth clients. Under Natasha's leadership, the business has been recognised as Best Luxury Tour Operator in the UK for seven consecutive years. Natasha is a recognised voice within the luxury sector and was recently named on the Walpole Power List. She is passionate about the human side of luxury and leads with a clear purpose: to create a beautiful life and a kinder world.
Deutsches Reisebüro – which through developments and acquisitions would evolve into today’s DERTOUR Group - was founded in Berlin, Germany
Walter Ingham founds Inghams. He is credited as the man who took Britain skiing, launching with six winter trips in his first year
Peter Diethelm establishes the Kuoni UK tour operation, 60 years after Alfred Kuoni launched his pioneering travel agency in Switzerland in 1906
CV Villas is established by a husband-and-wife team who fell in love with the beautiful north-east coast of Corfu
Philip Morrell launches Voyages Jules Verne (now Jules Verne) with the initial aim of operating a train journey from London to Peking (Beijing) and onwards to Hong Kong
Journey Latin America is founded by Brian Williams and Chris Parrott, inspired by their own travels in South and Central America during time spent teaching in Rio de Janeiro
Ian Pollitt and his wife Carole open Carrier, a small travel agency in Alderley Edge specialising in tailor-made trips to Africa
Explore Worldwide is launched by Derek Moore and Travers Cox, offering six tours in a four-page brochure
Inntravel is founded by Richard and Linda Hearn, selling short ferry breaks to France
The entire tour operator business that has evolved from Deutsches Reisebüro begins trading under the DERTOUR name
Kirker Holidays is founded by Christopher and Angie Kirker, offering short breaks to Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Florence and Rome
John and Maria Tayler set up Solmar Villas, having rented out Menorcan properties they owned themselves and helping friends to do the same
DERTOUR becomes a 100 per cent subsidiary of REWE Group, one of the leading trading companies in Europe
Santa’s Lapland begins as a programme of day-trips to Rovaniemi, Finland, under the Esprit brand, evolving by 2011 into the short-break programme that continues today
DERTOUR takes over Kuoni’s European tour operator and sales businesses, including Kuoni UK, Carrier, CV Villas, Jules Verne and Kirker in the UK
DERTOUR acquires Journey Latin America
DERTOUR acquires Solmar Villas
DERTOUR acquires Hotelplan Group, bringing Explore Worldwide, Inghams, Inntravel and Santa’s Lapland into the DERTOUR UK portfolio