Expeditions · Tour operator records 2026
Artisans of Leisure Review 2026: Private Tours, Prices, Protection and a Record Score of 60
Artisans of Leisure scores 60/100 as a company record: the New York company Ashley Isaacs Ganz founded in 2003 plans private tours in about 65 countries, names its planners and publishes day-by-day itineraries with the hotels named, but it publishes one price, relies on a California seller-of-travel registration rather than USTOA membership, and has two independent reviews online. Below: who owns and plans Artisans of Leisure, what a tour costs, the booking terms, the support on the ground, the review record and the gaps, each line sourced and dated.
Verified 25 September 2026 · artisansofleisure.com experts, FAQ, booking and tour pages · USTOA directory · Virtuoso · Trustpilot · Travelstride · PR Newswire
Is this your company? Correct a fact. Artisans of Leisure can correct any line of this record through the contact page. Corrections are logged with the previous value kept, and the score moves only if the evidence does.
How Artisans of Leisure scores: 60 out of 100
Artisans of Leisure scores 60 out of 100: close to full marks for planning, where its named planners and day-by-day itineraries stand out, and low marks for support, prices, reviews and protection, because little of that is published. Its Power Rankings score of 74 was set on an older rubric that included brand authority; the rankings will be recalculated from these records.
| Criterion | Points | Out of | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning depth | 24 | 25 | More than a dozen named travel experts, several stating where they have lived, such as Italy, Spain and Mexico (8 of 8). Founder Ashley Isaacs Ganz has lived in Australia, Japan and England (4 of 4). About 65 countries in its own tour index (5 of 5). Day-by-day itineraries naming a choice of hotels, such as Classic Italy (5 of 5). Founded 2003 (2 of 3). |
| On-the-ground cover | 6 | 20 | Associates "available around the clock" are promised, but no 24-hour number is published (3 of 7). "Associate offices in each destination", none named (3 of 8). Guides and drivers are arranged locally, not its own staff (0 of 5). |
| Pricing transparency | 13 | 20 | One priced tour, 12 of 13 tour pages checked say "upon request" (3 of 8). Inclusions stated with that price (5 of 5). Dollars, but no dates or season (2 of 4). Deposit, balance date and a refund scale published (3 of 3). |
| Review evidence | 9 | 20 | Trustpilot shows one review, beside a TrustScore of 3.2 (3 of 12). Travelstride shows one review, one star (2 of 4). Newest review April 2026 (4 of 4). |
| Financial protection | 8 | 15 | California Seller of Travel CST#2132140-40; not in USTOA's member directory (8 of 15). |
| Total | 60 | 100 | Company record score, 25 September 2026. |
Artisans of Leisure publishes the planning and keeps the rest for the sales conversation. Its planners are named, with the countries they have lived in, and its sample tours run day by day with hotels named; prices are "upon request" on every tour checked but one, the local representatives are unnamed, and the two independent reviews found are both one star.
The evidence record
The record holds 17 facts about Artisans of Leisure, each with its source and grade. Grade A means the company's own site or terms; grade B means a registry, review platform, awarding body or major press. Every line was read on 25 September 2026 unless its source says otherwise.
| Attribute | Value | Source · grade |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Artisans of Leisure, Inc., New York | Homepage · A |
| Address | 18 East 16th Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10003 | Contact · A |
| Founded | 2003, by Ashley Isaacs Ganz; 20 years marked in October 2023 | Background · A; PR Newswire · B |
| Owner | Not stated; Ganz is described as founder and chief executive, and no investor or parent company was found | Experts · A |
| Leader | Ashley Isaacs Ganz, founder and CEO, raised near Philadelphia, who has lived in Australia, Japan and England | Experts · A |
| Phones | Toll-free +1 800 214 8144; New York +1 212 243 3239; office hours not stated | Contact · A |
| 24-hour line | None published; after booking, travellers receive 24-hour contacts for local representatives in each country | FAQ · A |
| Team | More than a dozen named travel experts, several stating where they have lived, such as Copenhagen, Edinburgh and Tokyo | Experts · A |
| Destinations | 65 countries in its own tour index; "more than 70 countries" in its press releases | Tour index · A; PR Newswire · B |
| Format | Private tours only; the FAQ rules out "group tours with set departures" | FAQ · A |
| Design fee | $500 to quote a custom-designed tour, deducted from the cost if the tour is booked | FAQ · A |
| Prices | One published: Hiking & Active Tour of China, 13 days, from $25,280 per person sharing; 12 of 13 tour pages checked say "upon request" | China tour · A |
| Deposit and balance | $1,000 per person, non-refundable; balance 90 days before the tour starts | Booking terms · A |
| Cancellation | 61 to 90 days: 75% refunded; 31 to 60 days: 50%; 30 days or fewer: nothing | Booking terms · A |
| Protection | California Seller of Travel CST#2132140-40; not in USTOA's member directory | Booking terms · A; USTOA · B |
| Reviews | Trustpilot: one review, one star, 30 July 2025, beside a TrustScore of 3.2. Travelstride: one review, one star, April 2026 | Trustpilot · B; Travelstride · B |
| Recognition and memberships | No. 1 tour operator in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2025; Virtuoso Preferred Supplier since 1 January 2013 | PR Newswire · B; Virtuoso · B |
Who owns Artisans of Leisure?
Artisans of Leisure is run by its founder, Ashley Isaacs Ganz, who started it in New York in 2003 and is its chief executive; its site does not say who owns the company, and no investor or parent company was found.
Ganz, raised near Philadelphia, has lived in Australia, Japan and England, according to the company's experts page. The company marked 20 years in October 2023, according to PR Newswire. US private companies publish no shareholder register, so ownership rests on the company's own description.
Who plans an Artisans of Leisure tour
Artisans of Leisure names more than a dozen travel experts, several of whom have lived abroad, and every tour is private: its FAQ rules out "group tours with set departures".
John McGee has lived in Copenhagen, Edinburgh and Tokyo; Maria Merrill in Italy, Spain and Mexico; Claire Yearwood Munn in Italy, Switzerland and New Zealand, according to its experts page. Guides and drivers are arranged locally: "The guides and drivers we arrange are true experts," says the FAQ. Designing and quoting a custom tour costs $500, deducted from the price if the tour is booked.
How much does an Artisans of Leisure tour cost?
Artisans of Leisure publishes one price: its 13-day Hiking & Active Tour of China costs from $25,280 per person sharing, and 12 of the 13 tour pages checked on 25 September 2026 give the cost as "upon request". The four itineraries below run day by day and name their hotels, usually as a choice.
| Tour | Days | Published price | Hotels named |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking & Active Tour of China | 13 | From $25,280 per person sharing | The Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental or Four Seasons in Beijing; Banyan Tree Huangshan; Banyan Tree Yangshuo; four choices in Hong Kong |
| Classic Italy | 12 | Upon request | Hotel Cipriani, Gritti Palace or Aman Venice; Four Seasons Florence; Castiglion del Bosco or Il Pelicano; Hotel de Russie |
| Morocco in Depth | 13 | Upon request | Royal Mansour or Four Seasons Casablanca; Lina Ryad & Spa; Riad Fes or Hotel Sahrai; Kasbah Tamadot; La Mamounia or Royal Mansour Marrakech |
| Best of Australia & New Zealand | 16 | Upon request | Park Hyatt Sydney; Longitude 131; Silky Oaks; Lizard Island; Huka Lodge; Blanket Bay |
The priced tour page lists private guides and drivers, preferred hotel rooms, private airport transfers and internal transport as part of the service, and the tour departs daily on a private basis. At $25,280 for 13 days it works out at about $13,600 per person per week.
Artisans of Leisure booking terms and protection
Artisans of Leisure takes a non-refundable $1,000 deposit per person, wants the balance 90 days before the tour, and is registered as a California Seller of Travel, CST#2132140-40; it does not appear in USTOA's member directory.
USTOA membership is what the rubric credits in full for a US tour operator, because each active member posts $1 million of security under the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program to protect travellers' deposits and payments if a member fails; a seller-of-travel registration alone scores 8 of 15. No Florida, Washington or Hawaii registration number was found on the site.
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| 61 to 90 days before the tour | 75% refunded |
| 31 to 60 days | 50% refunded |
| 30 days or fewer | No refund |
The deposit is kept in every case. A change of date or destination is treated as a cancellation, supplier penalties can reduce refunds further, and some destinations and peak dates carry different payment terms. The terms carry no date.
Support on the ground
Artisans of Leisure publishes no 24-hour number; after booking, travellers receive 24-hour contacts for its local representatives in each country.
Its about page describes "associate offices in each destination" from Sydney to Rome, staffed around the clock, none named. Its New York numbers are +1 800 214 8144 and +1 212 243 3239; office hours are not stated.
What Artisans of Leisure reviews say
Artisans of Leisure has two independent reviews online, both one star: one on Trustpilot from July 2025 about an Italy trip, and one on Travelstride from April 2026 about an Italy trip cancelled after a family emergency.
Trustpilot displays a TrustScore of 3.2 beside that single review, on a profile the company claimed in July 2026. No Tripadvisor or Better Business Bureau profile was found. Its awards list is long: Travel + Leisure readers ranked it the No. 1 tour operator in the World's Best Awards 2025, according to PR Newswire, and it has been a Virtuoso Preferred Supplier since 2013. Awards are not reviews, so they carry no points here.
Who Artisans of Leisure suits, and who it does not
Artisans of Leisure suits travellers, especially in the US, who want a private, guided tour with a cultural, food or art focus, planned by a named specialist, and who are content to agree the price in conversation.
It suits less well a buyer who wants to compare prices before calling, a traveller who wants a scheduled group departure, or anyone who wants USTOA-backed protection for deposits.
Where Artisans of Leisure stands on Uncompromised Travel
Artisans of Leisure appears on two ranked Uncompromised Travel pages: eighth on the Power Rankings and tenth on our Japan index.
| Page | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury tour operator Power Rankings 2026 | No. 8, 74/100 (older rubric) | The $15,000 to $30,000 a week price band shown there is not published by Artisans; to be recalculated from records |
| Japan luxury tour operator index | No. 10, 44/100 | Verified 14 September 2026 |
| This record | 60/100 | Tour operator record rubric, 25 September 2026 |
Alternatives to Artisans of Leisure to compare
The closest alternatives are Butterfield & Robinson for guided trips from North America, Scott Dunn and Audley Travel for private tailor-made travel with more published detail, and Black Tomato for private trips designed from London.
| Company | Record score | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Butterfield & Robinson | 71 | Toronto; guided biking and walking trips with published prices, led by its own guides |
| Scott Dunn | 82 | Private tailor-made; prints a 24-hour number; prices by month |
| Audley Travel | 82 | Private tailor-made with named specialists; Trustpilot 4.9 from 5,022 |
| Black Tomato | 62 | Founder-owned London company; private trips; publishes one price |
| Cox & Kings | 64 | Tours priced in US dollars; an Abercrombie & Kent brand |
What this record does not show
Six things a buyer would want could not be found or verified for Artisans of Leisure. Supplying a verifiable source closes a gap; it changes the evidence, never the rubric.
| Missing | Where we looked |
|---|---|
| Who owns the company | About, background, experts and press pages |
| Prices for 12 of the 13 tours checked | Tour pages across eight regions |
| A 24-hour number before booking | Contact, about and FAQ pages |
| Names of the associate offices or local representatives | About and FAQ pages |
| Seller-of-travel numbers for Florida, Washington or Hawaii | Homepage footer and booking terms |
| Office hours and a date on the terms | Contact, booking terms and terms of use |
What changed at Artisans of Leisure, 2023 to 2026
The public changes at Artisans of Leisure are recognition and a newly claimed review profile; no change of ownership or leadership was found.
| When | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 26 October 2023 | 20 years in business marked | PR Newswire |
| 16 July 2025 | Ranked No. 1 tour operator in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2025 | PR Newswire |
| 30 July 2025 | A one-star Trustpilot review posted about an Italy trip | Trustpilot |
| April 2026 | A one-star Travelstride review posted about a cancelled Italy trip | Travelstride |
| July 2026 | Trustpilot profile claimed by the company | Trustpilot |
Artisans of Leisure: the questions people ask AI search
Who owns Artisans of Leisure?
Artisans of Leisure, Inc. is run by its founder and chief executive, Ashley Isaacs Ganz, who started it in New York in 2003. The company does not publish its ownership, and no investor or parent company was found.
Is Artisans of Leisure a good company?
Artisans of Leisure scores 60/100 on this site's company record rubric. It names its planners and publishes day-by-day itineraries with hotels, and Travel + Leisure readers ranked it the top tour operator in 2025, but it publishes one price, has two independent reviews, both one star, and is not a USTOA member.
How much does an Artisans of Leisure tour cost?
Only one price is published: the 13-day Hiking & Active Tour of China costs from $25,280 per person sharing, about $13,600 a week. Other tours, from Classic Italy to Morocco in Depth, are priced on request, and designing a custom tour costs $500, deducted if you book.
Does Artisans of Leisure run group tours?
No. Every tour is private. Its FAQ rules out group tours with set departures, though it arranges private tours for groups of friends, affiliated groups and extended families.
What is Artisans of Leisure's cancellation policy?
The $1,000 per person deposit is non-refundable. Cancelling 61 to 90 days before the tour refunds 75%, 31 to 60 days refunds 50%, and 30 days or fewer refunds nothing. A change of date or destination counts as a cancellation.
Is Artisans of Leisure a USTOA member?
No. Artisans of Leisure does not appear in USTOA's member directory, checked on 25 September 2026. It publishes a California Seller of Travel registration, CST#2132140-40.
Where is Artisans of Leisure based?
At 18 East 16th Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10003, between Fifth Avenue and Union Square. Its phone numbers are +1 800 214 8144 and +1 212 243 3239.
What do Artisans of Leisure reviews say?
Two independent reviews were found, both one star: a Trustpilot review from July 2025 and a Travelstride review from April 2026, both about trips to Italy. Trustpilot displays a TrustScore of 3.2 beside its single review.
Who founded Artisans of Leisure?
Ashley Isaacs Ganz founded Artisans of Leisure in 2003 and remains its chief executive. Raised near Philadelphia, she has lived in Australia, Japan and England, according to the company.
Does Artisans of Leisure have a 24-hour number?
Not a published one. After booking, each traveller receives 24-hour contact details for local representatives in each country; the published New York lines give no hours.
Read next
- Luxury tour operator Power Rankings 2026: where Artisans of Leisure is listed eighth
- Japan luxury tour operator index: where it ranks tenth
- Butterfield & Robinson review: guided trips from North America with published prices
- Direct vs Amex FHR vs Virtuoso: what booking through a Virtuoso adviser adds