Help Support the Travel Industry & you could win a tip to Cognac, make your own Gin with the team at Audemus, or win a years supply of Pink Pepper Gin!

COVID-19 has been catastrophic for the UK travel industry and STA Travel, with 500 staff in the UK has been one of the most high-profile casualties.  

Although he now has a career in gin, Ian Spink from Audemus Spirits spent many years at STA, and together with former colleagues and friends, is looking to raise some much needed support for those affected by the current crisis in the travel industry.  

When they ceased trading on 21 August 2020 after more than 40 years in the UK, The Guardian wrote: “Known for its enthusiastic staff... generations of students would flock to STA Travel stores to book gap years and summer breaks through the company – or simply to gaze longingly at the adventures it promised.

“I wish I had ‘friends with benefits.’ Except the friends would own a distillery and the benefits would be free gin.”

Well it just so happens that some friends of STA Travel do own a distillery.

So here’s the plan…

1. You donate here
2. The full amount of your donation will go to ABTA Lifeline and they distribute funds to people in need
3. Everyone that donates, no matter how large or small the amount, will be entered in the GinSTAstic draw - as long as you include your name & email address.
4. On 30 September 2020 we will make the draw for Prizes 1 & 2. 
5. When we meet our fundraising goal (or on 30 September 2020, whichever is later) we will make the draw for our top prize - a gin-making trip to Cognac!

The prizes

1. Prizes 1 & 2: drawn 30 September 2020

• Prize 1: a year’s supply of Pink Pepper Gin delivered to your door (12 bottles)
• Prize 2: an online gin Masterclass for you and as many of your friends as can get on a Zoom call (including a bottle of Pink Pepper Gin)

2. Prize 3: drawn when our fundraising goal is reached, or on 30Sep20 (whichever is later)

• Our top prize is a weekend in Cognac, France at the Audemus Distillery, home of the award-winning Pink Pepper Gin.
  Recreating our fam trips of old, this top prize includes flights from London Gatwick (or similarly priced UK regional airport or rail option), accommodation, food & drink. You’ll be guided through the art of making your own gin and stay at the beautiful Audemus Manoir. Aside from any personal expenses, your only cost will be getting to the airport/station and personal travel insurance.
• There will be two winners drawn who can each invite a friend to join them to make it an amazing fun weekend for four. We’d encourage you to find an STA Travel friend but it’s not compulsory!

Important! You must include your name & email address when you make your donation if you want to be included in the draw.
Without this we cannot identify you or contact you. 
You can still choose to mask your donation amount, but please do not go "anonymous" if you want to be entered into the draw.

Note: Anyone who has previously donated directly to ABTA Lifeline TravelCares and mentioned STA Travel in their comments will automatically be entered into the draws for Prizes 1, 2 & 3.

Small print: dates for the visit to be agreed between the prize winners and the organisers but taken by 31st March 2021 and pending lifting of travel restrictions between UK and France