The VIP travel concierge will soon offer its own private jet service, having realised the value in directly managing its clients’ transfers.
“I’ve wanted to do this for years,” Amanda Teale, founder of Minerva Private Travel, told TTG. “I just wanted to have more control.”
Rather than booking jet travel through a broker, Teale will now deal directly with aircraft operators. She says the decision allows Minerva Private Travel to further personalise its clients’ journeys by granting more control over the onboard experience.
“We already add our monogrammed mats and headrests to the jets, as well as our biannual magazines and signature scent,” she said.
It will also enable Minerva Private Travel to reserve specific aircraft types rather than accepting the first available jet, and to potentially choose its own cabin crew.
“I don’t have a launch date just yet, but I am currently putting together the nuts and bolts of the programme,” Teale added.
The update comes six years after the entrepreneur purchased a fleet of company vehicles following repeated negative experiences with her chauffeur partners.
The collection features four Mercedes models, including two V-Classes, an EQS, and a GLE, and a team of drivers personally approved by Minerva Private Travel.
All vehicles are kitted out with luxury amenities – including chilled Voss water and premium blankets – to ensure maximum comfort. They have proved so popular that some clients even request them for non-travel purposes, such as picking a pet up from the groomer.
“It was definitely a risk, but it paid off,” Teale recalled, adding that business has increased by 300% since making the investment. She is now considering buying a fifth vehicle specifically for luggage, having recently catered to a client travelling with 18 bags.
Additionally, Minerva Private Travel has launched Minerva One, an elite tier rewarding its most loyal clients with perks such as custom AirTags and exclusive appreciation events. The firm has also unveiled Journeys by Minerva, a series of bespoke itineraries featuring handpicked properties and experiences across Japan and Africa.
