Away From The Ordinary: A Pandemic Survival Story

Update: 2021-03-25

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We’re all familiar with the saying, when life gives you lemons – make lemonade. In 2020, the Corona virus gave the travel and hospitality industry worldwide, including in Scotland, a veritable orchard of lemon trees. With domestic and international travel shut down almost overnight, those in the travel business faced a very uncertain future.

Tourism is big business in Scotland. According to Insider.co.uk, An estimated 14 million people visit the country annually and spending by tourists accounts for 5% of the national GDP and the industry accounts for more than 7% of employment in Scotland. Not surprisingly tourism and hospitality took a huge downturn when the Corona virus decided to visit – and stay, putting Scotland in a year long lockdown.

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Like so many other small entrepreneurial businesses, Away from the Ordinary found itself in a fight for survival, needing to find a way to stay in business and weather the storm. That would be no easy task because, as it’s name implies, Away from the Ordinary, is not your ordinary travel agency. Fully 70 percent of its business comes from clients in the USA and the experiences offered cover the gamut of all that is Scotland; from private after hours tours and over night stays in a castle, to hiking, biking, canoeing or horseback riding across the stunning Scottish landscape, from bespoke whisky tastings and private distillery tours, to ancestral and historical site visits, to a round of golf or dining at Michelin starred restaurants - It’s luxury travel with a very personal touch.

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Away from the Ordinary’s bespoke travel offerings cover all the experiences you could hope for in Scotland, from hiking through the stunning scenery, to historical site visits, varied whisky experiences, golf (of course), after hours tours and overnight stays in castles, and fine dining on Scotland’s amazing larder. (All photos courtesy Away from the Ordinary). Click on any image to enlarge.

Raised in Western Scotland, Founder Aeneas O’Hara is more tailor than travel agent – measuring, cutting, stitching, and fitting a travel experience as unique to you as a custom tailored suit of the finest Scottish Harris Tweed. O’Hara enjoyed a successful career in Financial Technology and while traveling the world, the beauty and magic of Scotland never left him. He returned to found Away from the Ordinary with his wife, to sustainably share the wonder and majesty of Scotland with travelers from all around the world. With Scotland in lockdown however, it was time for a new business model.

Along with Michael McCuish as Director of PR and Partnerships, North America, O’Hara settled on technology of the times (ZOOM, etc) and another iconic Scottish product, whisky, to guide Away from the Ordinary through the travel shutdown. The pair launched what has since become an award-winning online whisky tasting series, keeping the business healthy through these online cultural exchanges rather than in person travel experiences.