Travel risk and safety expertise you can rely on.
Sanderson Phillips has been supporting businesses across the travel industry for more than 30 years.
We provide practical risk and safety expertise to help organisations protect their customers, people and reputation — from consultancy and independent auditing to training and crisis preparedness.
Our approach is simple: we help you understand and manage risk, provide assurance across your operations and supply chain, and make sure your teams are prepared when it matters
What we do.
Sanderson Phillips, a Certified B Corporation®, has been providing expert affordable auditing and consultancy services to the international leisure and travel industry since 1997.
We are proud to work with some of the most respected names in travel, including Trailfinders, Abercrombie & Kent, Audley Travel, Dertour UK, Barrhead Travel, Specialist Journeys, SAGA, Newmarket Holidays and many more.
Our expertise spans the full spectrum of travel risk and safety. Through our Advise, Assure and Prepare system, we help businesses understand and manage risk, gain greater assurance across their operations and supply chains, and ensure their people are prepared when it matters most.
From consultancy and safety management systems to independent auditing, training and crisis preparedness, Sanderson Phillips provides the expertise and support to help travel businesses operate safely and with confidence.
Expert Guidance
Practical, commercially focused advice to help you understand and manage risk.
Our experienced team can support you with risk and safety consultancy, policies and procedures, business continuity, crisis planning and incident management.
Auditing & Assurance
Independent auditing and assessment to give you greater confidence across your business and supply chain.
We support travel businesses with accommodation and supplier safety, transport, activities and excursions, accessibility and sustainability.
Training & Crisis Management
Helping your business prepare for when things don’t go to plan.
From risk and safety training to crisis management workshops and realistic simulations, we help teams develop the skills and confidence to respond effectively management.
About Us.
Founded by Graham Phillips in 1997, Sanderson Phillips has been an authority in UK travel safety for more than 25 years. As MD of Silk Cut Travel in the 1980’s, Graham identified the need for smaller operators to be able to manage their health and safety obligations at an affordable price and from here, Sanderson Phillips was born.
In 2011 Graham was joined by Aimée Atkin as the business grew and in 2016, current Managing Director, David Atkin came onboard. Husband and wife team David and Aimée acquired the business in 2019 and are now supported by five freelance consultants.
Since taking ownership, David & Aimée have implemented a bespoke online data management system which they continue to develop; and have grown the company to offer more services, working with a broader range of travel organisations including Destination Management Companies, event organisers and hotel brands.
Managing Director David Atkin (left) & Founder Graham Phillips at the 25th Anniversary celebration of Sanderson Phillips.
How can we help your business?
Whatever your travel business, our range of affordable auditing, consultancy and training services will ensure your travel safety requirements are covered. As a UK-based consultancy, we mainly work for UK organisations but have a growing international client list.
Tour Operators
- Supply Chain Auditing
- Sustainability Certification
- Consultancy & Advisory Services
- Modern Slavery Act
- Accessibility
- Safety & Crisis Management Training
Destination Management Companies
- Supply Chain Auditing
- Sustainability Certification
- Consultancy & Advisory Services
- Modern Slavery Act
- Accessibility
- Safety & Crisis Management Training
Hotels & Accommodation
- Safety Systems for Accommodation
- Sustainability Certification
- Consultancy & Advisory Services
- Safety & Crisis Management Training
Don’t see yourself listed?
We also provide consultancy, training and auditing services to other travel organisations, plus risk management support to organisations outside the travel industry.
We have had the pleasure of working with membership organisations, event management companies, tourist boards, security consultancies and villa specialists.
What People Are Saying.
“We have been proud partners of Sanderson Phillips supply chain auditing services since 2021. Working with David and the team has been transformative, eliminating what was a significant administrative burden and enabling our team to concentrate on investigations and preventative actions that deliver the most value. The level of support we receive from Aimee and David’s expert team is fantastic. The concept is a real win/win: if a supplier is assessed for one operator, they are assessed for all, which reduces overall cost and the number of assessments suppliers are completing.”
Product Director, Saga Travel Group (Trading as Saga Holidays and Titan Travel)
“Sanderson Phillips have acted as our hotel safety assessment consultants since 2000. Effective and compliant health & safety management is core to our business and with the help of Sanderson Phillips we know that our guests are safe in the hotels we book for them. Graham, David, Aimee and the whole team at Sanderson Phillips are knowledgeable, responsive and a pleasure to work with. Sanderson Phillips’ online portal allows us quick and easy access to live hotel audit results that we can access from anywhere in the world.”
Harriet Stewart
Manager DMC Support, Abercrombie & Kent
“We have worked closely with Sanderson Philips for many years and are confident we can rely on their knowledge, professionalism and adaptability to deliver an excellent service. Their recent technology upgrade (with more upgrades in the pipeline) means their service is now, more than ever, equipped to respond to the changing demands of the market.”
Graham Upton
Assistant Manager, Trailfinders
“ITC Travel Group has worked in partnership with Sanderson Phillips for over 20 years and we appreciate the comprehensive service that they provide us with, not only through their regular updates highlighting any changes to hotel gradings but also by their willingness to give prompt advice and assistance in response to any more general questions that we might have within the field of hotel safety. In recent years their online portal has enhanced the service that they provide, giving us a quick and easy way of checking the exact safety status of a particular property at any given time.”
Helen Tabois
Senior Product & Marketing Manager, ITC Travel Group
“We have worked with Sanderson Phillips for many years now and we see them as a vital part of our business. From the in-house system to the ease of picking up the phone and speaking to the team, we know that the information we gather from Sanderson Phillips is up to date and accurate. It is through the support and knowledge of Sanderson Phillips that we confidently know we are acting responsibly, and our guests are travelling to safe properties. We would highly recommend Sanderson Phillips.”
Charlotte Dent
Product Manager, Scott Dunn
“LATA has partnered with Sanderson Phillips since 2008 to provide safety information to it members, helping to ensure that LATA Members can operate to the highest standards. We have always found Sanderson Phillips a delight to work with, and feedback from our members has always been extremely positive.”
General Manager, Latin American Travel Association
“Specialist Journeys have been working with Sanderson Phillips for a number of years to ensure that tour accommodation meets safety regulations. We have built a strong relationship and staff at Sanderson Phillips are always happy to answer questions. Their service provides a valuable online portal which enables Specialist Journeys staff to view the progress of audits and action any booking restrictions which must be met. We continue to work together to ensure the safety of guests and staff.”
Sophie Empson
Health & Safety Manager, Specialist Journeys
“Having known Graham and David professionally for years, there was no hesitation in utilising the Hotel Assessment services of Sanderson Phillips. Their combined global knowledge and extensive travel expertise provides EDEN with the reassurance we need for our esteemed clients. As a luxury travel business, we find the online portal invaluable and rely on it regularly to check luxury hotels throughout the world. All the Sanderson Phillips team are very helpful with any questions and having annual meetings with David keeps us all up-to-speed with current regulations and industry challenges.”
Jenny Jones
Product Director, Eden Luxury Travel
“Without Sanderson Philips, we would not have been able to grow our hotel portfolio in such a safe and sustainable way. Advice is clear, confident and practical, queries are turned around efficiently and the recent introduction of their on-line portal has made updates instantly accessible achieving many operational benefits. I have known David for many years of working in the same sector of the travel industry and always find him and Aimée a pleasure to work with.”
Mark Hibbert
Operations Director, Lusso
“Sanderson Phillips has been a valued partner of Black Tomato for several years; their thoroughness and insight have proved invaluable as we have expanded across destinations. The online portal is an excellent interface, which we use on a daily basis. We also appreciate having their wonderful team on hand for tailored advice and support. An indispensable resource for any travel company. ”
Carolyn Addison
Head of Product, Black Tomato
“We have worked with Sanderson Phillips for well over a decade, and their regular property reports and excellent online system are an integral part of our risk management processes. They understand our needs and requirements, and we would not hesitate to recommend them to others in the travel industry.”
Co-founder, Original Travel