Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/443780
B M & T ••• Septemebr/October 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 39 ATI Holidays is the largest independent, FIT travel planning service to the English speaking market, offering what they believe to be some of the most innovative tailor-made, fly and drive itineraries available today. ATI is completely independent of any lodge group which means they do not have loyalty to only specific establishments and can sell to your cus- tomer's needs. "We only employ the most experienced and passionate travel consultants who all know Namibia intimately, hence we offer the most diverse and customer focused itineraries available," explains ATI's David Cartwright.. "We are a small, reliable, focused and committed group of individu- als led by myself, the CEO. Our response times are the best in Namibia as is our product knowledge and attention to detail. With ATI you will get true, old-fashioned customer service and I am always available to help solve any problem you may have. Safety and attention to detail underpin everything they do, emphasizes Cartwright. ATI is the only self- drive and fly-in operator to personally meet and brief ALL clients upon arrival. They are also the only company to include medical treat- ment and evacuation insurance, inclusive and standard with all book- ings. All travelers are given a mobile phone upon arrival, pro- grammed with each lodge number, and their telephone lines are truly 24/7 with a consultant always available. "We also offer the most com- prehensive 4x4 vehicle hire available in Namibia, and as we check every car individually, we can guarantee its safety and quality. We set the mar- ket standards," adds Cartwright. Although self-drive, fly-in combos aren't for everybody, Cartwright feels there's a growing body of experienced, independent travelers who don't want to feel nannied, but still want the peace of mind of knowing they have a carefully crafted itinerary, and are doing what they want to do, when they want to do it. "The key is in the detail, support and man- agement of the trip, from concept to completion," he says. The added beauty of this flexibility is that the traveler is getting the best possible value from his US$. By saving on the expensive private guide and vehi- cle they can add real value to their trip by using that saving where it really counts; at the iconic locations they've traveled all this way to see. It allows clients the chance to upgrade their accommodation, enjoy the services of specialist local guides and add those other- wise unaffordable little luxuries, such as a dawn bal- loon flight over the dunes of Sossusvlei. The saving also presents the opportunity to fly the odd leg of the tour, and take the tedium out of some of the longer drives therefore allowing the traveler more time to enjoy the locations they've chosen to visit, says Cartwright. "A good example that we com- monly suggest would be to fly the southern, desert, leg of a tour, and then pick up the car in Swakopmund.beause we are the Namibian specialist we are the ONLY Namibian operator who can offer our clients automatic transmission 4x4 vehicles with our fully inclusive insurance options." Pictured above is Harry, one of ATI's brand new luxury Land Rover Discovery vehicles and its driver, Martin – who meets all clients at the airport! For more information and sample itineraries, contact Cartwright at david@infotour-africa.com . F R O M T H E M O T H E R L A N D ATI HOLIDAYS A TOP CHOICE FOR VISITORS TO NAMIBIA