The brand’s invitation-based membership platform continues to grant rare access around the world.
A new wave of invitation-only travel clubs is emerging, promising an elusive commodity: access. But one leader dominated the market well before such an idea began trending: Scott Dunn.
The company has been operating for 40 years and has built its reputation over the decades for offering once-in-a-lifetime, tailor-made holidays again and again. But as a result of numerous client requests, an invitation-based membership aimed at those seeking deeper levels of personalization – Scott Dunn Private – was introduced in 2007 and has been leading the market ever since.
“From private island takeovers to silent expeditions across desert landscapes, every custom itinerary we’ve built has informed how we push the boundaries of luxury travel today,” says Dom Atterton, Scott Dunn Private (SDP) membership manager. “Experience has been our greatest architect.”
That may be true, but SDP’s (not so) secret weapon is its vast global network of travel experts, which, when combined, provide the most important piece of the puzzle: access to the impossible. Whether it’s a private art collection in New York, the not-yet-opened chef’s table in Tokyo, or an exceptionally appointed Venetian palazzo that doesn’t appear in the guidebooks, SDP’s concierge service has a seemingly magical way of opening doors.
As a member you are paired with a dedicated private relationship manager who acts as a personal advisor and single point of contact, getting to know not just where and how you like to travel, but what it is you and your family is really looking for. Think of them as your personal Chief Experience Officers, or family travel office (or should that be family out-of-office?). So whether what inspires you is elevated levels of luxury, an introduction to like-minded people or surprising twists and unexpected delights in an itinerary only revealed on the day, your advisor is able to anticipate your desires with unnerving accuracy.
For Atterton and the SDP team, it’s about finding ways to elevate already exceptional experiences: exploring the Great pyramid with a leading archaeologist by candlelight, for example, or foraging for native plants in the Peruvian Andes with the country’s most celebrated chef. Because what you take away from your travels is what stays with you for ever, after all.
Other times, it’s about cultivating a passion. For a member with a deep appreciation for High Renaissance art, the team recently arranged for them to unlock the doors to the Sistine Chapel with the Vatican’s Clavigero before whisking them off to Milan for a private viewing of The Last Supper. “To put this into perspective,” Atteron says, “this kind of uninterrupted access away from crowds is simply unheard of.”
As well as unrivalled travel access, membership provides a host of additional lifestyle benefits, including invitations to a calendar of global events with discrete luxury brands, chauffeur-driven transfers to and from your home, and 24/7 service from the international support team.
For some years now, Scott Dunn has spoken of transforming travel into an art form. Whether clients are wanting to bring multiple generations of family together, celebrate major milestones or simply reconnect with a partner while experiencing that wish-list adventure, SDP exists to push the boundaries of what’s possible. With offices in both New York and California, as well as San Diego, London, Hong Kong and Singapore, SDP’s network spans the globe, enabling it to unlock experiences and opportunities the world over. «It’s just the right amount of everything,» as one member memorably said after a trip to Iceland in 2024, proving that what is removed from an itinerary is sometimes just as important as what is added. It’s an effortless way to move through the world, exploring unique destinations and rediscovering favourite cultures and cities. «We expect a lot, and we got a lot,» said another member. «Everything was perfect.»
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