About Brown & Keene Travel

Origins of Brown and Keene
Brown and Keene opened in 1979 as a personnel placement firm. Our staff has won numerous awards over the years for top production. Ngaire Keene was active in the industry and served as President of the Texas Association of Personnel Consultants and received the Norval Locke Achievement award, the highest recognition possible within this industry. In 1995, Ngaire became sole principal of the company.

Addition of the travel company to Brown and Keene
After 20 years in the personnel business, a desire to focus on their passion for travel resulted in the addition of a new company in 1999, Brown and Keene Travel. Ngaire and her husband Ken have always enjoyed traveling and had sailed on over 40 cruises before opening the travel agency.

Luxury Cruises
Wishing to specialize in luxury cruises in the beginning, Brown and Keene selected and only represented Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, now named Regent Seven Seas Cruises. As the years have passed other luxury cruise lines have been added to the list of products Brown and Keene sells. Expertise and service is the keystone to the success of Brown and Keene. All the cruise lines we represent have been experienced personally by a staff member. We keep current with our knowledge with all staff members traveling a minimum of once a year on one of the cruises that we sell.

Escorted Cruises
From the beginning Ngaire and Ken have escorted cruises with individuals who enjoy traveling with others that share the same love of discovery and the comfort of a luxury cruise. This ultimately gave birth to www.luxurycruisetalk.com as a talk board for communication between those who often travel on escorted cruises and a source of information for any traveler. The forum is open to any who wish to read or participate.

Escorted Land Tours – South Africa and Egypt
In 2003 a group of clients requested Ngaire and Ken escort a luxury safari to South Africa. A scouting trip was planned to South Africa by Ngaire and Ken to be sure that this was a venture they wished to undertake. This trip was the beginning of a love affair with South Africa. Ken and Ngaire have made numerous trips to South Africa to visit over 65 camps in Southern Africa and have the extensive knowledge necessary to plan and ensure a truly exceptional safari. Brown and Keene have organized many safaris for individuals and by 2010 there have been seven customized escorted groups to South Africa.

In 2008 another client requested an escorted trip to Egypt. With several trips to Egypt already experienced by Ngaire and Ken, a custom trip was organized. The experience was so wonderful that it was decided to offer escorted trips to Egypt in the future.

Staff
Initially only Ngaire worked in travel, but the business grew rapidly and soon long time staff members Linda Litteken and Susan Walsh became involved in travel. Susan Wempe our office manager became involved in both companies and Mae Jackson took on some responsibilities in the travel company. With a need for more staff Julie Rodriguez, a past Brown and Keene employee returned to Texas and re-joined Brown and Keene in 2004. In 2005, Debbie Tate and Lisa McNamara were added to the travel company.

Today’s Brown and Keene
Brown and Keene is a top producing firm for the companies we represent and are very appreciative to our wonderful clients who have made the business what it is today. Without the support and referrals from our clients the business would not grow. The focus of all the team members of Brown and Keene is to offer exemplary service and assist our clients in every way possible.

The clients that travel on a regular basis on the escorted cruises and tours have formed relationships with Brown and Keene staff and other clients that are quite remarkable. Of all the success Brown and Keene has been fortunate to experience - this is the most valued and priceless aspect of the travel company and one that I know all those involved treasure.