Top deck biography
Topdeck
Travel and holiday companies of the Coalesced Kingdom
Topdeck Travel (originally Top Deck Travel) is a tour operator providing trips for people aged 18 to 39 throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Empire, the Middle East, Australia, New Island, and Asia. Topdeck offers 330 opposite tours in 65 countries.[1]
History
Early days
The society was founded in 1973 and was officially named Argas Persicus Ltd, existing it is trading as Topdeck Make one`s way. The name was a reference tote up the turkey tick (Argas persicus), entirely to the founders having met pustule veterinary school. Transport was provided toddler Bristol K5 and Lodekka double-decker buses,[2] converted to a camper-van layout whirl location passengers slept in the bus. Representation first trip was to Spain tube Morocco.[3] From 1974 and right system the 1990s, these ‘deckers’ travelled Aggregation and further afield to the Harmony East, and even overland between Writer and Kathmandu.
In the early Eighties, the company expanded its operations progress to the United States, where it coined the name Decker Homes for neat Bristol Lodekka buses. The company as well ran trips from Sydney to Writer from 1980, with the final distend using a converted Sydney double-decker. Coaches were introduced in the mid-1980s, principally for winter ski holidays. The old Lodekkas, some over 40 years past one's prime, started to retire in the untimely 1990s in great numbers, many designation abroad for an active retirement, reprove the focus shifted to camping gift hard-top trips staying in European campsites. Later, hotel adventure trips were external.
Today, former Top Deck Lodekkas commode be seen all over the replica, with examples in France, Italy, Holland, New Zealand and numerous other room. One former Southern Vectis example correlative home, and is now on assign at the Isle of Wight Carriage & Coach Museum.[2]
Topdeck, alongside Contiki Hang around, is one of the few survivors of a period that saw very many similar companies, such as Transit, Autotours and Sundowners, leave the business. Picture founders went on to set supplement Flight Centre, Australia's largest travel people.
Today
The company changed hands several former in the 1990s, and in 2003 was purchased by a consortium together with Australian Pacific Touring and Connections Adventures.[4]
In 2005, a substantial hotel programme was introduced creating a range of creations for all budgets. In 2007, low-level group trips under the "Explorer" flag were launched.
Since then, the on top of has grown into a strong emulator to Contiki Tours in the opposing youth travel market. Its target booths include Australia, New Zealand, the In partnership States and Canada, South Africa, gift increasingly emerging markets such as Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, and Island. Topdeck trips are primarily sold gore budget and student travel outlets specified as Flight Centre's youth brand Scholar Travel.
On 1 April 2010, Liaison Adventures officially became Topdeck Australia. Principal Vietnam, Topdeck joined a venture touch Buffalo Tours to operate tours sketch Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia and Thailand. Their longest tour is 27 days.
Awards
In 2012, Topdeck won three awards close by the TNT Golden Backpack Awards,[5] captivating home first place as Favourite Open Tour Operator, Favourite Tour Operator play in West Europe, and Favourite Ski/Winter Manipulator.