Artisans of Leisure is a luxury travel company offering private cultural tours in international destinations.[1][2] The company offers tours in 70 countries on six continents.
Artisans of Leisure was founded in 2003 by Ashley Isaacs Ganz. Food & Wine magazine has named Ganz a luxury travel “tastemaker,”[3] and Departures magazine featured Ganz in their "Explorers" issue.[4]
Artisans of Leisure was ranked the best tour operator in the world in Travel + Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards[5] and has appeared on the Top 10 Tour Operators list in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards readers’ survey multiple times.[6][7]Condé Nast Traveler magazine regularly selects Artisans of Leisure for their list of Top Travel Specialists.[8] In their annual survey that rates travel companies according to client satisfaction, quality of service, sustainability, education, and other criteria, National Geographic Adventure magazine named Artisans of Leisure one of the best luxury travel outfitters in the world.[9]National Geographic Traveler has named the company's tours to their 50 Tours of a Lifetime in multiple years.[10][11] Trade publication Recommend said, “Travel industry insiders go as far as saying that Artisans of Leisure hasn’t merely raised the bar when it comes to private touring—they claim Artisans of Leisure is the bar.”[12] The company's tours have been listed in the Condé Nast Traveler magazine Dream List repeatedly.[13][14][15] Artisans of Leisure tours have been recommended by The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Forbes, NBC’s Today show, CNN, Frommer's, Fodor’s, and other major newspapers, magazines, guidebooks, affluent market studies[16] and trade publications.
Artisans of Leisure specializes in luxury Foreign Independent Travel (FIT) and arranges tours with a cultural focus in 70 countries.[17]
The company also offers special-interest tours focusing on various themes,[18] such as culinary tours,[19][20][21] family tours,[22] art and architecture tours, active travel, garden tours, tours for travelers with food allergies and dietary restrictions, and religious heritage tours. The company also designs one-of-a-kind international honeymoons[23][24] and offers a honeymoon registry.[25][26]
Artisans of Leisure is noted for incorporating specialized experiences into their tours, such as philanthropic activities,[27] specialized shopping excursions,[28][29][30] special lessons and classes such as Japanese tea ceremony and Italian cooking,[20] and innovative activities for families, couples and groups of friends.[31][32]
^Maier, Kathryn & Wilkinson, Brook (December 2006). “The Fabulous 50: 50 Experiences that Only Insiders Can Deliver.” Condé Nast Traveler, pp. 180, 182, 186
^Thrasher, Paula Crouch (July 25, 2004). “Premium Travel: More are Willing to Pay for Service.” The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, pp. K1, K6
^Clemence, Sara (July 8, 2020). “World's Best Awards: The Top 10 Tour Operators.” Travelandleisure.com
^Wu, Stephanie (August 2016). “World's Best Awards: The Top 10 Tour Operators.” Travel + Leisure, p.46
^Condé Nast Traveler (April 2020). "The 2020 Top Travel Specialists." Condé Nast Traveler, p.62
^Christ, Costas & Martin, Claire (February 2009). "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth." National Geographic Adventure, p. 81
^Loftus, Margaret (May–June 2010). “50 Tours of a Lifetime: The Year of Adventure.” National Geographic Traveler, pp. 91-92
^Loftus, Margaret (May–June 2011). “50 Tours of a Lifetime: Going Deep, Getting Personal.” National Geographic Traveler, p. 90
^Ortiz, Sergio (February 2009). “Tour Talk: Artisans of Leisure.” Recommend, p. 14
^Maier, Kathryn & Wilkinson, Brook (December 2006). “The Fabulous 50: 50 Experiences that Only Insiders Can Deliver.” Condé Nast Traveler, pp. 180, 182, 186
^Maier, Kathryn & Wilkinson, Brook (December 2007). “The Dream List: 40 One-of-a Kind Experiences and How to Get Them.” Condé Nast Traveler, pp. 207, 216, 218
^Maier, Kathryn & Wilkinson, Brook (December 2008). “The Dream List: 32 One-of-a Kind Experience--and How to Get Them.” Condé Nast Traveler, p. 153
^"HNWIs’ Pursuit of “Passion Investments” Is Not Deterred by Economic Volatility: Luxury/Experiential Travel" (June 24, 2008). Merrill Lynch / Cap Gemini World Wealth Report 2008, p. 25
Johanson, Mark (November 13, 2015). “Once-in-a-lifetime Trips.” CNN.com
Jordan, Michele Anna & Brady, Susan (2006). The World is a Kitchen: Cooking Your Way Through Culture – Stories, Recipes, and Resources. pp. 268, 277, 279. Palo Alto, CA: Travelers’ Tales. ISBN1-932361-40-5
Kaplan, Michael (Fall 2006). “Savoring the World.” Celebrated Living, pp. 96, 98
Kelly, Margaret (Ed.) (2012). “Special-interest Tours.” Fodor's Australia (21st ed.), p. 738. ISBN978-0-307-92844-3
Kelly, Margaret (Ed.) (2011). “Guided Tours.” Fodor's China (7th ed.), p. 780. ISBN978-0-307-48053-8
Loftus, Margaret (May–June 2010). “50 Tours of a Lifetime: The Year of Adventure.” National Geographic Traveler, pp. 91–92
Loftus, Margaret (May–June 2011). “50 Tours of a Lifetime: Going Deep, Getting Personal.” National Geographic Traveler, p. 90
McLaren, Sally & Zatko, Martin (2014). “Agents and Operators.” The Rough Guide to Japan (6th ed.), p. 32. ISBN1409342832
Minarcek, Andrea (July 30, 2013). “Adventure Travel 2013: Top New Trips to Emerging Places.” USAToday.com
Murphy, Jen (May 2013). “Cooking & Culinary Tour: 4 Hands-on Food Experiences.” AFAR, p. 80
Pounder, Sibeal (December 15, 2013). “Little League: Philanthropic Tourism.” Financial Times – How To Spend It
Richmond, Simon & Dodd, Jan (2011). “Agents and Operators.” The Rough Guide to Japan (5th ed.), p. 28. ISBN1848366159
Roberts, Chuck & Motamed, Nilou (August 31, 2006). “Trips That Will Change Your Life.” CNN Headline News
Roberts, Sophy & Story, Richard David (October 2012). “A Guide to the Mediterranean: Insiders to Consult, Villas to Rent and Advice on Getting There.” Departures
Reiber, Beth (2006). “Escorted Tours.” Frommer’s Tokyo (9th ed.). p. 35. ISBN0-471-76392-6
Sardone, Susan Breslow (November 2007). “Honeymoons/Romantic Travel: Top 5 Tour Operators.” About.com
