An interview with Graham Yandell MBE, the CEO of Yandell Publishing (publisher of Group Leisure & Travel) which marks its 40th anniversary in August 2026.
What motivated you to launch the business?
After a ten-year career in local newspapers, I had more latterly been a publisher with International Thomson Business Publishing based in London and had been responsible for refreshing its very successful publication, Meat Trades Journal, which had been in decline.
However, despite this success, I decided back in 1986 that rather than accept a promotion to be publishing director of the meat and farming division at Thomson’s, which was a main board appointment, or take up the post of marketing director of Thomson South Africa that I had been offered, that I would buy a small local newspaper in Milton Keynes which I did as the majority shareholder, along with two colleagues and develop its potential.
Within six months however, with a premonition and realisation about the long-term future of local papers, I sold the Milton Keynes Standard on to a newspaper group owned by entrepreneur Keith Barwell (who also owns rugby club Northampton Saints) realising a profit on the transaction which I could then invest and found myself unemployed for the first time since leaving school at 15 years of age.
It seemed logical to initially return to the meat industry where I had formed strong relationships, good contacts and many friends. Fortunately people seemed pleased to have me back in the sector.
Comedian, impressionist and West End star Luke Kempner hosted this year’s Group Leisure & Travel Awards and left us this special birthday message…
Which publication did it start with?
Having increased my working capital I launched the business on August 12th, 1986, having decided to go solo without involving my original colleagues and my first magazine was Meat Manufacturing, which in real terms is now Meat Management magazine, which we published for the first time in November 1986.
Give us an overview of the company’s journey/expansion?
Our first year was a great success. I had budgeted a modest £157,000 turnover and we achieved £350,000. From that point on I never looked back, and was in fact looking forward for new opportunities.
Being aware that under the Thatcher Government, public transport in the bus and coach sector was being de-regulated, I acquired the long established magazine Coaching Journal & Bus Review in 1987. This came with the annual Who’s Who in the Bus & Coach Industry, a successful annual that we still publish today. Coaching Journal helped me to develop my idea to then launch Group Leisure & Travel magazine, which has been an incredible success.
Since then we have grown steadily both organically and by acquisition and now have successful media clusters serving various platforms in meat, food, group travel and school travel. Obviously, apart from magazines, we have a range of annuals and yearbooks, award events, exhibitions and online / digital media.
What do Yandell magazines bring to their markets?
In a word – quality. We create and publish original and mostly unique content supported by an expertise in providing our readers with relevant well-presented editorial that they can trust. We are also quite prepared to challenge authority or questionable practices and have done so on many occasions over the years.
How has the group travel sector changed over the years?
Going back, the coaching sector had much more influence about where to go on group trips. Over the years however that changed and GTOs became far more prepared to set destinations and trips for their groups. Group travel has also got much more ambitious with a myriad of opportunities available at home and overseas. I like to think we have been a major force in developing that trend.
How important are relationships with operators, venues and destinations to the success of our publications and other media?
Our relationship with the market and all its component parts is critical and is built on hard won trust and integrity. We do not produce ‘puff’ publications like others, and I think operators, venues and destinations respect that, many of whom are our advertisers and customers. Research consistently confirms that Group Leisure & Travel magazine is Britain’s best read and most valued group travel title and that is because of its independence and outstanding content. Good relationships are absolutely essential, and we work very hard to maintain them.
Can you tell us more about the events organised by Yandell Publishing?
These have been many and varied over the last four decades, but these days we have market leading 5-star awards events in group travel, school travel, the food industry and three events in the meat industry. We also have a highly successful annual exhibition in Milton Keynes at Arena MK every October for the group travel sector.
Reader interaction is really important which makes the GLT Reader Club fam trips special…
Reflecting on 40 years, what do you think has been Yandell Publishing’s greatest achievement?
That’s a difficult question, as when I look back I believe we have achieved a great deal as a family business.
I do believe we have an amazing relationship with our readers, event visitors and guests, our advertisers, many of whom have used us regularly for decades, exhibitors and sponsors, not forgetting our own suppliers too.
In addition, we also have many trusted and valued colleagues working in the Yandell company, many of whom have given great service over the decades. We have brilliant employees working here with 10, 20, and even 35 plus years’ service. These colleagues, both past and present, are the backbone of our business and I acknowledge the outstanding contribution the whole team has made.
More recently we came through Covid when many of our competitors did not. We also published throughout the Covid period which again many, if not all, did not. We are still feeling the longer term effects of the pandemic in various ways and we took a massive hit, but I believe we showed our strength and our commitment to linking up the readership communities we serve during such a challenging time for everyone.
How are you celebrating?
We are marking the occasion at our usual events throughout the year and more importantly not becoming complacent. I have often repeated my view that ‘our complacency will be someone else’s opportunity.’ You are only ever as good as your next edition!
After 40 years at the head of the business, is there one piece of advice that has been most valuable for the success of the company?
An old mentor of mine, a man by the name of Jim Merchant, told me that “we are here to change events – not record them.” I believe that is the case in both life and in business and hope we have changed things for the better when it comes to the markets we serve.
Also, Lord Thomson of Fleet, the late great Roy Thompson, was emphatic that one should never be afraid of making mistakes. I agree with that. I have made my mistakes over the years of course, but I have always tried to learn from them.
What excites you most about the next ten years for Yandell Publishing?
We are well placed to expand further and have the ambition and resources to do so if the right opportunities present themselves.
I have fantastic co-directors with my son Rob and my wife Sharon who are so skilled and passionate about what they do, and a great team in support who are the future of the business. Times change and we change with them. That’s what makes it such enormous fun!
Yandell Publishing is the publisher of Group Leisure & Travel and owner of the GLT portfolio which also includes: Who’s Who in Group Leisure, Coaching Venues & Excursions Guide, Who’s Who in the Bus & Coach Industry, Group Leisure & Travel Awards, and the Group Leisure & Travel Show. It also publishes School Travel Organiser, Learning Outside the Classroom Yearbook and organises the School Travel Awards, as well as producing media in the food industry.
