Edinburgh-based small group tour company, Rabbie’s Tours, has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. This award recognises the company’s short-term growth in overseas sales over the past three years.
From its roots as a one-person operation in 1993, Rabbie’s has grown by offering customers one-of-a-kind experiences, guaranteed departures and access to off-the-beaten-track locations via their small group coach tours across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.
The company is led by CEO Hazel Rickett, who began her career at Rabbie’s as one of the company’s very first driver-guides. Today, she heads up the leadership team, including Heather Rennie McGill, Director of Marketing and Sales, who has played a key role in growing the company’s international reach and global strategy.
Hazel Rickett credited the success to her team, saying, “I feel incredibly lucky to work with such an amazing team – passionate, driven, and committed to delivering outstanding customer experiences. Honestly, they motivate me every day. We all love travel, we love our country, and we love showing it off. For me, life’s about being happy and making people happy. When I see what our team does to deliver fantastic customer experiences, making customers happy, and I see the growth and development of our team, it’s hugely rewarding. I think having a happy team is the secret to success.”
Over the three-year period recognised by the award, Rabbie’s overseas turnover grew by 3,155%, with export sales increasing from 13% to 80% of total revenue. The most significant international markets, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, now represent nearly three-quarters of the company’s overseas customer base.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, renamed in 2023 following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, carry forward a tradition of celebrating outstanding British businesses. Now in their 59th year, the Awards remain the UK’s most prestigious business honours, with winners permitted to use the esteemed King’s Awards emblem for the next five years.
For more information and to book a tour visit www.rabbies.com
