About us
Established in 1883, Baxter Hoare has a long history, with the business growing alongside the development of London's Southwark region over the last 129 years. Here's a timeline of the history of our company (with a few minor events thrown in, too).
1883
Frederic Baxter and Francis Hoare start their freight forwarding company – Baxter Hoare & Co Shipping & Forwarding Ltd – on Southwark's East Wharf, London.
1885
London's Olympia Exhibition Hall is opened.
1889
The Savoy Hotel opens in London.
1893
Baxter Hoare starts its travel business by arranging passage on ships for landed gentry.
1894
Tower Bridge is opened by the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) and his wife.
1903
The Wright brothers make the first sustained, controlled, powered heavier-than-air manned flight at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, four miles south of Kitty Hawk.
1909
Louis Blériot becomes the first person to fly a heavier-than-air craft across a large body of water when he crosses the English Channel in his Blériot XI monoplane. His flight from Calais to Dover takes 37 minutes.
Baxter Hoare expands their operations to include flight arrangement.
1914
Outbreak of World War 1.
1917
Chalk Airways, the first airline, is founded.
1919
British aviators Alcock and Brown make the first non-stop transatlantic flight, 25 August 1919.
The British company Aircraft Transport & Travel launch their London to Paris service, the world's first regular international flight.
1927
Charles Lindberg takes the Orteig Prize of $25,000 for the first solo, non-stop crossing of the Atlantic.
1933
The UK Air Ministry approves commercial flights from Gatwick.
1939
Pan American launches the the world's first transatlantic passenger service, between New York and Marseilles. A one-way trip across the ocean costs $375.
The world sees the outbreak of World War 2.
1946
The newly-named London Heathrow Airport opens officially for commercial operations.
The first computer reservation system is introduced by American Airlines.
1947
Test-pilot Chuck Yeager is the first man to break the sound barrier in the rocket-powered Bell X-1.
1952
The DH Comet is the world's first commercial jet airliner.
1953
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
1958
The inaugural flight of the Boeing 707 ushers in the jet age.
1961
Yuri Gagarin is the first person to travel into outer space, orbiting the Earth in the Vostok spacecraft.
Baxter Hoare opens its events division. Our Business Travel Manager, John Hussey, joins the team.
1969
Concorde makes its maiden flight.
1970
The 747 enters service on Pan Am's New York–London route.
Baxter Hoare travel moves to Red Cross Way.
1973
New London Bridge is opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
1976
United Airlines is the first airline to allow travel agents direct access to its CRS.
Birmingham's NEC is opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
Baxter Hoare is purchased from Adolp Saphir by Bowater.
Baxter Hoare is bought by United Dutch Brewery and moves head office to 35 Borough High Street. Offices are also opened at London Bridge Walk and Park Street.
Baxter Hoare Shipping and Forwarding Ltd is rebranded Baxter Hoare Travel Ltd.
1991
Breakthrough in the Eurotunnel. UDB is bought out by Wembley PLC.
Baxter Hoare moves to 86 Borough High Street.
1994
The Channel Tunnel is opened by Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterrand. The first Eurostar train (Le Shuttle) departs from London Waterloo International.
Baxter Hoare is bought by Colin Saunders and moves to 51 Borough High Street.
1999
The London Eye is opened by Prince Charles.
2000
London ExCel opens.
2004
London's latest skyscraper, affectionately known as 'The Gherkin' opens.
Baxter Hoare moves to its current offices in Winchester Walk.
2007
Eurostar transfers its UK services from Waterloo to St Pancras International and commercial services begin over the whole of the new High Speed 1 line.
The Savoy Hotel closes for a grand refurbishment.
The A380, the world's largest passenger airliner, makes its first flight between Singapore and Sydney (flight number SQ380).
2008
Electronic tickets are made mandatory in the UK. Heathrow T5 opens to passengers.
Baxter Hoare is bought by Bath Business Travel.
2009
Building work begins on London's latest skyscraper 'The Shard'.
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2010
Eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull (an Icelandic volcano) causes disruption to air travel across western and northern Europe.
The Savoy Hotel opens its doors after a £220 million refurbishment.
Baxter Hoare Travel is bought by Adam White and joins the GTMC.
2011
Baxter Hoare Travel acquires Pressplan Travel Ltd and all staff come to work at Winchester Walk.
