About Us

The Travel Authority is an independent UK travel agency creating tailor-made holidays and Grand Prix travel packages. We specialise in the Middle East, Indian Ocean, Asia and Africa, with particular first-hand experience of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Founder and Managing Director Deep has more than 25 years of experience in aviation and package travel. He previously established and led Etihad Holidays across Europe and worked on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from within the event's stakeholder group.

We use that experience to make complicated trips feel clear. One consultant considers the flights, accommodation, race or holiday experiences and the practical connections between them, then remains your point of contact throughout the booking journey. Recommendations are based on the needs of the individual traveller rather than a standard itinerary.

Flight-inclusive package holidays booked with The Travel Authority are ATOL protected under ATOL number 12440. The Travel Authority is also a member of the Travel Trust Association, membership number X2884.

Deep is the founder and managing director of The Travel Authority, an independent UK travel agency. He and his team help travellers choose where to stay, plan their itinerary and bring flights, hotels, transfers and experiences together into a carefully considered holiday.

His experience of Abu Dhabi dates back to 2007, when he moved to the emirate during a significant period of tourism development. He went on to establish and lead Etihad Holidays across Europe, opening offices and developing holiday programmes that introduced European travellers to Abu Dhabi, with the UK and Germany as key source markets.

Working closely with tourism organisations, airport teams, hotels and Yas Marina Circuit, he helped establish the commercial relationships and travel arrangements supporting the destination’s growth, before many of its best-known attractions had opened.

His responsibilities included developing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix holiday packages and representing Etihad on the event’s stakeholder committee. He also managed Etihad’s in-house destination management company, overseeing Etihad Airways’ corporate hospitality for Formula 1. This included coordinating hotels, transport, entertainment and guest logistics throughout their stay.

Through the destination management company, Deep and his team also created and supplied Grand Prix travel packages to specialist Formula 1 travel agents for sale to their own customers.

Industry coverage

In March 2016, travel trade publication TTG reported on the relaunch of Etihad Holidays’ UK operation and quoted Deep on working with the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority to develop the destination for UK travellers. The article identifies him by his full name, Gurdeep Singh Shinji, as manager of Etihad Holidays (UK).

Read the TTG article: Etihad Holidays relaunches UK operation

The Travel Authority is an independent UK travel agency. Deep’s former Etihad roles do not imply a current official affiliation with Etihad Airways or Formula 1. Package inclusions, access and availability are confirmed for each booking.

Explore Deep’s profile and travel articles

We are ATOL-protected, our ATOL number is 12440. The financial protection provided by the Civil Aviation Authority ensures your money is safe at all times. You can find more details on your ATOL protection here

We are also part of the Travel Trust Association (TTA), member X2884. We operate according to the member code of conduct to ensure all our customers receive full financial protection throughout the journey of their booking. To find out more about the TTA click here

If a supplier ever fails, your money — and your trip — stay protected. That's the whole point of booking with a bonded agent instead of piecing a holiday together yourself.