- A luxurious travel company’s founder mentions that the Titan disaster has sparked a surge in interest in extreme travel.
- Brown and Hudson previously collaborated with OceanGate to offer submersible trips to the Titanic.
- The founder reveals that some customers were driven by “bragging rights” or a fascination with the Titanic.
The founder of a bespoke luxury travel company asserts that the Titan disaster has not deterred affluent customers from seeking out extreme travel. Instead, it has fueled their interest even further.
“Following this tragedy, we have seen an increase in inquiries, not necessarily related to the Titanic, but for other extraordinary experiences,” shared Philippe Brown, founder of Brown and Hudson, with Insider. “Sometimes tragedies generate curiosity in other areas of extreme travel.”
The company has witnessed a “noticeable surge” in interest for their high-level memberships, with clients initiating discussions about different terrestrial projects. Notably, no one has canceled their scheduled extreme travel trips.
Prior to the Titan disaster, OceanGate offered $250,000 trips for passengers to explore the Titanic wreckage. Unfortunately, the Titan submersible lost communication with its mothership less than two hours into its journey on June 18. The US Coast Guard suggests that the submersible likely imploded, resulting in the deaths of its five crew members – OceanGate’s CEO, three ultra-wealthy customers, and one of their sons.
Brown and Hudson had previously collaborated with OceanGate to provide Titanic dives. Brown remarked that the experiences offered by OceanGate were somewhat limited, leading Brown and Hudson to enhance them by offering broader and more extensive experiences with additional training. He mentioned that since 2017, three clients had committed to joining the Titan trip but ultimately withdrew at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts.
During consultations with Brown and Hudson advisors, clients discuss their dream trips and plan out vacations for the upcoming years. Brown stated, “For a majority of our clients, the Titanic has been a topic of conversation.” Some individuals sought “bragging rights” or had always held a fascination with the ship, while others viewed it as an investment and anticipated selling their spot in the future.
“The individuals who joined the waitlist for the Titanic are the same type of people who would consider near-space flight,” emphasized Brown. “The required investment, relatively speaking, is similar.”
According to Brown, the desire for adventurous and risk-taking travel is a “perfectly normal thing,” unaffected by accidents. He explained, “People still fly even when planes crash. They will take helicopters even after helicopter accidents. Ultimately, mankind continues to progress, hopefully in a more educated and risk-aware manner.”
In addition to the cost of the trips, which can exceed £100,000 ($127,400), Brown and Hudson’s clients pay annual retainers ranging from £9,700 (about $12,350) to £100,000 ($127,400), plus taxes. While the majority of clients come from North America, many others hail from Brazil, China, India, and the UK. Clients include investment bankers, tech workers from Palo Alto, and individuals who attend events like Davos or the Sun Valley Conference.
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