LUXURY travel, the best of exclusive cruise ships, the choicest resorts, the most luxurious of hotels.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do.

When many people are pulling in their horns and watching the pennies, it seems a brave moment to launch a new luxury travel company. But Hampshire-born Andy Hancock, pictured right, is calm about the timing of his latest venture.

Indeed that may be an understatement. The former resort manager is positively bullish that Excedo - slogan journey beyond'' - will succeed.

"This is the one end of the market that will not be affected by any turndown in the economy. We have done our research. There are enough people who are seeking a luxury service that we believe we can offer them,'' commented Hancock who lives close to Southampton.

And bespoke travel with the emphasis on luxury is what underpins Excedo, whose name in Latin means Go Beyond.' The aim of the company is to offer luxury independent and adventure travel from around the world.

Excedo's portfolio includes small ship experiences along the Amazon , into Antarctica, around the Galapagos, Tahiti, the Caribbean, the Nile and the Far East. The attention to detail has been intense, whether it is seeking out the highest staff to guest ratios on the most exclusive small cruise vessels, of ensuring the travel programme includes the most exciting sections of the jungle or visiting the best chateaux. Cape Horn, the Pantanal, the Iguazu Falls, Colombia's Mindo-Nambillo forest - the exotic, the unusual, the seldom visited.

Proud "We are very proud of the fact that we have selected places and activities that go beyond the ordinary,'' added Hancock.

"Whatever clients choose they will stay in the most luxurious hotels, the most well-appointed ships or the most interesting country houses and historic palaces.'' Excedo also major on private guided tours, expert talks and a range of options to personalise that holiday experience. But had it been hard work for this 28-year old to research for his future clients' needs?

"I can't say it has been all that bad,'' he joked. "But we have to get this right and that means painstaking research into the very best for what we offer to travellers.'' Hancocks was head-hunted for the post of general manager by Excedo founder entrepreneur John Denton who spotted him in a BBC docu-soap that followed the trials and tribulations surrounding the opening of a resort in Turkey. Hancock was resort general manager and emerged as the star of the series.

Determination And it was his determination to get the job done that impressed his Denton.

"It was interesting doing the show, but it didn't prevent me from focussing on what needed to be done on the ground for the resort to be successful,'' added Hancock who was employed by Hampshire travel company Sunsail. Brought up in Lymington, following his education, Hancock moved overseas and spent eight years living and working in Greece, Turkey and the Caribbean in a variety of different hotel and resort management roles. As a resort manager, he says, his focus was always clear: unrivalled customer service. It's a core value he says he still maintains today.

Now based back in Britain, he has returned to his Hampshire roots and as well as enjoying hobbies of windsurfing, waterskiing, snowboarding, tennis and of course travel, he is also studying for an MBA at Southampton University.

So, drawing on his own experience, what would he recommend as something extra special?

"We've researched this fantastic Rhone wine tour taking in some of the finest wines of Burgundy and Beaujolais in the company of wine master James John.. It's on the MV Princess de Provence which is just superb. It's refurbished annually and has this tremendous collection of original art on board. It has just 70 cabins, all of which are outside, and there are six meals a day. It's quite superb.'' But if he really, really had to choose somewhere above everywhere else he has visited during his research?

"The Galapagos Island. Now there is somewhere spectacular.'' For more details about Excedo: excedotravel.com or email info@excedotravel.com or call 0845 246 2666.