A booze-free travel club has gained popularity with drinkers and non-drinkers alike since launching last year.

Founded by Little Emperors’ Theo Hitchcock in March 2025, The Travelcohol-Free Club [TTFC] was born after the luxury travel specialist recognised a lack of alcohol-free networking spaces within the industry.

“I go to a lot of events in both London and abroad, and it’s surprising how often I have to go and order a drink for myself,” he told TTG. “Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the events we go to, but every single event in every industry in every part of the world will have at least one attendee who, for their own reasons, isn’t drinking.”

What began as a small WhatsApp group has quickly grown to an official members’ club of like-minded travel enthusiasts.

Over the past year, Hitchcock’s events calendar has featured everything from speakeasies and tea tastings to intimate dinners and mocktail-making workshops. The club has also been supported by several major luxury suppliers, including Oekter Hotels, Numo Hotels and Resorts and Lumirani Collection, as well as non-alcoholic beverage brands like Lyre’s and French Bloom.

“It’s just a really fun community that didn’t exist before in this industry,” Hitchcock said. “It’s not stuffy or serious at all.”

The club’s success reflects a wider societal shift; a recent NHS survey found that the number of UK adults who don’t drink alcohol has increased from a fifth to one quarter of the population. These changes can also be felt amongst travel professionals, over 80% of whom believe the industry could do more to accommodate non-drinkers.  

Hitchcock is now keen to emphasise that TTFC is open to everyone, regardless of whether they consume alcohol or not.

“People seem to think this is a community of non-drinkers, but that’s not the case,” he explained. “85% of the people who come to my events are drinkers. Some might want a night off, or they might be taking a break for health reasons.”

The Travelcohol-Free Club has also been embraced by parents and caretakers, many of whom welcome the earlier finishing times of its evening events.

“It was so nice to be able to get home in time to say goodnight to my eldest son,” Cartology Travel’s Kate Rissi commented after attending TTFC’s recent mocktail-making class at The Lanesborough in London.

As for the health connotations of non-drinking, Hitchcock insists that TTFC is not – and never will be – a wellness community.

“The world doesn’t need another wellness or self-help club, there are thousands of them already,” he said. “Obviously, wellness is integral to our brand, as not drinking is one of the best things you can do for your health. But we don’t want this to be about wellness.”

As for what TTFC members can expect in 2026, Hitchcock already has a number of events in the pipeline. The club’s next gathering will take place on 4th February at Fulham Pier’s Lighthouse Social, where guests will enjoy aperitivos while learning all about Cala Falco, a family-owned 42.5-hectare estate on Mallorca’s coastline. Other upcoming events include a rave at the Ministry of Sound and drinks with Rocco Forte Hotels at the Donovan Bar in Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair. 

Two membership options are currently available. AB membership, priced at £50 per year, is designed for travel professionals and includes invitations to industry-only events, along with early access to trips, events and retreats. TB membership, which is open to everyone, costs £100 and offers invitations to trips, events and retreats, plus a complimentary 12-month Little Emperors membership.

You can follow The Travelcohol-Free Club here.