Our Leadership Team
Learn more about the people behind our company.
ABOUT US
A focus on long held values, not short-term returns
WHO WE ARE
Collinson is a family-run, global business
Private ownership means we can focus on the values that are important to us. These drive everything we do. They result in us acting with integrity and agility while making long-term investments and decisions. They keep us innovative and importantly, they help us to deliver a better customer experience.
Collaboration
Giving support for team and individual growth
Creativity
Being open-minded to taking a different approach
Consideration
Making ethical decisions for positive impact
WHAT WE’VE DONE
Our milestones
Collinson’s journey started over 30 years ago, when our chairman, Colin Evans, was Managing Director of IAPA, a global travel benefits business with a history stretching back to 1963. Colin took ownership of the company in 1985.
With the development of new products and innovative services, the Collinson we know today soon began to take shape. Once formed, Collinson was further strengthened by the acquisition of established companies that allowed us to expand on our offerings.
1985
Colin Evans is appointed Managing Director of IAPA
IAPA stands for the International Airline Passengers Association and provided travel insurance, seating plans and other planning tools for all travellers.
1987
The launch of ICLP
Inspired by his frequent travelling, Colin saw the potential to deliver enhanced customer experiences. This results in ICLP, the world’s first dedicated loyalty agency.
1989
Opening up lounges to leisure travellers
Seeing the benefit of lounge access for premium business travellers, Colin found a way to provide entry to non-business travellers by introducing it as a benefit to IAPA members.
Lounges open in Amsterdam, Rome and Berlin that same year.
In time, this grew into the world’s first independent lounge programme, Priority Pass.
1990
ICLP opens an office in Dallas
ICLP goes on to establish more offices across the globe in coming years:
- 1994 - Dubai
- 1995 - Singapore
- 1995 - Hong Kong
- 1999 - Sydney
- 2000 - San Francisco
- 2004 - Shanghai
- 2004 - Mumbai
- 2008 - Cape Town
- 2014 - Beijing
1991
The Collinson Group is Established
Collinson becomes the parent company of ICLP.
1992
The launch of Priority Pass
Building on the success of providing airport lounge access as a benefit for ICLP members, and after strong feedback from consumers, we create the independent lounge access programme Priority Pass, with Collinson acting as the parent company.
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1996
Columbus Direct becomes part of the group
The group acquires PTI (Professional Travel Insurance Company) Ltd, an underwriting entity that includes the Columbus Direct travel insurance brand.
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2008
The Affiliate Gateway opens
The Affiliate Gateway (TAG) is launched in the UK and in 2011 expand into Asia. TAG was one of the first global affiliate network businesses, and it still powers much of our commerce business.
2010
Launch of Collinson Insurance Brokers Ltd
Collinson becomes an International Insurance and Reinsurance Broker at Lloyd's. David Evans is brought in to head up this part of the business.
2011
A Loyalty Lifetime Achievement Mega Award
At the prestigious 2011 Travel Mega Awards in Miami, Colin Evans was recognised for 25 years of innovation and results delivered for clients.
2012
We gain an in-house assistance team
Acquisition of One Assist, a medical emergency assistance service and our first assistance purchase.
2014
Aria Assistance is acquired and Welcome Real-Time purchased
Significant boost to our assistance capabilities with the acquisition of Aria Assistance, formally Europ Assistance UK and Irespoland.
Welcome Real-Time is an award-winning technology that integrates with banking and retail systems to reach over 100 million global consumers.
2014
We launch SmartRedeem Store for Flying Blue
We started working with Flying Blue in 2012 providing both our SmartRedeem Store and SmartEarn products. In 2014 we recommended upgrading their redemption e-store based on our new marketplace model. This new version of SmartRedeem Store, increased the rewards, available to their members, from 250 to over 4,000 products and we now regularly deliver to over 180 countries around the world. We continue to work with Flying Blue to co-create best-in-class solutions for their members.
2016
New charity partnerships
We join forces with the Royal Foundation and Coach Core.
The Royal Foundation is a charitable organisation fronted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, dedicated to various areas from mental health to conservation.
Coach Core is an apprenticeship for young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment or education, helping them develop the skills needed for sport and beyond.
Find out more
The Royal Foundation is a charitable organisation fronted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, dedicated to various areas from mental health to conservation.
Coach Core is an apprenticeship for young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment or education, helping them develop the skills needed for sport and beyond.
2017
Collinson Group reaches £500m in revenue
For the first time in the company’s history we achieve this financial milestone.
2018
Collinson Investments is created
With a focus on travel and the goal of accelerating innovation and improving experiences for consumers, this part of the business allows us to work with and invest in start-ups across the globe.
One of our initial investments was in Grab, the open platform that connects airport restaurants, retailers and services to travellers via a smartphone.
2019
Collinson Group achieve over £1bn in revenue
Our year-end results see us reach another financial milestone.
2019
Inflyter comes onboard
Further committing to redefining the airport experience for travellers, we invest in Inflyter, the pre-eminent digital airport retail and duty-free ordering platform.
This latest investment, in addition to the deepening relationship with Grab, means we can make the most of the fantastic talent in these young enterprises as part of our ongoing vision to create a joined-up passenger journey.
2020
Valuedynamx is announced
We launch a business unit to focus on the convergence of payments, commerce and loyalty, leveraging our unique size and scale to continue investing in an area ripe for disruption.
Valuedynamx was created to deliver on the rising need for an integrated and secure commerce ecosystem that enables the delivery of personalised, low friction earn-and-redeem experiences.
2020
An international partnership with Save the Children
We enter a three-year partnership with Save the Children. As well as raising money for the Children’s Emergency Fund, some employees have signed up to become mentors as part of the charity's Urban Migrant Youth Development Project.
2021
Gold winner - PR Awards Asia 2021 (Corporate Branding category)
Our campaign 'Getting the World Travelling Safely Again' continues to be focused on helping to achieve the safe, long-term return of global travel through COVID-19 testing, government lobbying, and supporting inter-operable health passport innovations.
The approach included a mix of public affairs across regional publications in APAC and the UK, saw media relations efforts hit close to 4,000 earned placements across print and broadcast.
The approach included a mix of public affairs across regional publications in APAC and the UK, saw media relations efforts hit close to 4,000 earned placements across print and broadcast.
Get to know Collinson
Corporate Responsibility
We’re committed to enhancing the communities and environments we work in.
Careers
We’re always on the lookout for people who stand out.