<\/p>\n
A century in business is no small feat, particularly in an industry as prone to change as travel. And for APT, longevity has never been about standing still.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Born out of Melbourne\u2019s transport networks, the family-owned operator\u2019s story has been one of adapting, evolving and finding new ways to connect people with the world.<\/p>\n That story was front and centre as Lou Tandy and David Cox hosted a media partners lunch at Berowra Waters Inn, overlooking the serene Hawkesbury River.<\/p>\n Tandy said the business\u2019s longevity came down to a culture of \u201ccontinual renewal, continual innovation, and probably more simply, just continual improvement\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve watched, we\u2019ve been alert to the market around us,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The philosophy was tested during the COVID-19 pandemic, when international travel restrictions brought APT\u2019s revenue to zero almost overnight. With Melbourne enduring extended lockdowns and a cyber attack adding to the pressure, the business faced one of the most challenging periods in its history.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yet even as travel stopped, APT continued planning for the future, using the time to develop its next generation of river ships.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI always knew we\u2019d get through it,\u201d Tandy said, explaining that protecting the family-owned business remained the priority.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe came out of COVID 100 per cent family-owned and we came out of it with an incredible team\u2026 the scars to prove it, and hopefully a lot wiser from the experience as well.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n APT\u2019s commitment to looking ahead has translated into a busy year of product development and expansion already. <\/span><\/p>\n Highlights include the launch of Travelmarvel Rigel<\/em>, the christening of APT Ostara<\/em> and the introduction of the world\u2019s only five-star paddle steamer, Australian Star.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Acquisitions have also broadened the group\u2019s reach, with UK-based solo travel business One Traveller and the Murray River Paddlesteamers Company joining the portfolio. <\/span><\/p>\n APT has also launched its brand in New York, taking its Australian offering to a market dominated by some of the world\u2019s largest travel companies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs an Australian company, we send Australians overseas, and we compete against the world\u2019s biggest brands and some of the world\u2019s biggest travel companies,\u201d Cox said. \u201cWe though: let\u2019s take it back to their backyard too.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sustainability is another area of focus, with the operator recently achieving B-Corp certification, a feat that Cox says felt natural.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cActually, we didn\u2019t do anything different, other than fill out a lot of forms,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The group has also enjoyed a strong year of industry recognition, with accolades including Lou Tandy\u2019s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the consumer category and APT\u2019s recent win as the NTIA\u2019s Most Outstanding Tour Operator \u2013 Global.<\/p>\n Tandy said the recent industry recognition was further evidence that APT\u2019s business model continues to hold its own.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat they mean to us is that, after 100 years, we\u2019ve still got it,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re a business with prominence, and we\u2019ve got a really special history.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n APT\u2019s next century of innovation is already underway. Alongside further river cruise developments in Europe and Portugal, the group is preparing to launch its first purpose-built ocean ship for Travelmarvel.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Scheduled to debut in early 2029, Travelmarvel Capricorn<\/em> will be an ice-class vessel carrying roughly 200 passengers across nine decks, with all-balcony cabins and five restaurants. Its name carries a family connection, honouring Tandy\u2019s mother and recalling her father\u2019s own expedition vessel.<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The group has also set its sights on becoming a $1 billion business by 2030, with continued investment and international expansion underpinning the strategy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Reaching 100 is both a milestone and a reminder of what has kept the business moving forward. APT\u2019s history is firmly rooted in family and its future will depend on the same willingness to adapt that has brought it this far.<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As Tandy put it: \u201cWhat\u2019s important is preserving what\u2019s special, and evolving at the same time.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n kabarsula SLOT <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A century in business is no small feat, particularly in an industry as prone to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3854,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kabarsula"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3853"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3853\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabarsula.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A landmark year for APT<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The future of APT<\/strong><\/h2>\n