A HUSBAND and wife who founded their own travel firm have launched a bespoke holiday service that could benefit Derbyshire companies looking to seek out new markets overseas.
Steve and Veronica Hendry, who run Future Travel, have launched A Week Away.
The idea behind the service is to take people anywhere in the world for a guided short break or business trip.
The company is starting the service by organising trips to China.
Steve and Veronica will accompany their customers on the trip, acting as tour guides and taking them to some of the best places.
Veronica already has an extensive knowledge of China as it is the place where she was born and raised.
The couple met in China in the early 1990s, when Steve was a tour manager for a large UK travel company and Veronica was a local guide based in Beijing.
They married in 2001 and Veronica relocated to Derby, where she set up Future Travel, which was part of the Co-op Travel Group.
But she kept going back to her home country to work as a guide and tour manager.
As well as working with thousands of visitors to China, Veronica has acted as a personal guide for a number of VIP guests, including former US Secretary of State Dr Henry Kissinger and current US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
Veronica said: "Meeting Dr Kissinger was perhaps one of the biggest highlights of my career. In the early 1970s, he helped establish relationships with China, which opened up the country to the rest of the world.
"I had grown up with his name, so to meet him in person was a great privilege. I showed him around the Forbidden City and he said he had been there a number of times but got more out of his visit with me as I managed to get him access to some of the rooms which are normally closed off to visitors.
"In more recent times, in 2008, I was so proud to be involved with the Beijing Olympics working as a translator for the company that designed the famous Bird's Nest Stadium.
"The Olympic Park is definitely on our 'to do' list while we are in Beijing.
"Thanks to my knowledge and connections I can ensure tour guests have access to areas and destinations not normally open to travellers."
Veronica said the service would not just benefit the leisure traveller.
She said: "With the growing popularity for UK businesses in developing relationships with Chinese suppliers and customers, I can help local businesses with travel arrangements, introductions and interpreting services.
"My previous work has seen me ensure that business travellers to China find the right flights and accommodation and identify the most appropriate venues for trade shows and exhibitions."
Steve said: "An increasing number of people want to travel further afield and it's important that every aspect of the trip runs efficiently."
The couple have launched a website, www.aweekaway.co. uk.
