About Keene Luxury Travel

(Formerly Brown and 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.

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.

Hosted Cruises

From the beginning, Ngaire and Ken have hosted group 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 Luxury Cruise Talk - a message board for communication between those who often travel on hosted cruises and a source of information for any traveler. The forum is open to any who wish to read or participate.

Hosted Land Tours - South Africa and Egypt

In 2003, a group of clients requested Ngaire and Ken host 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 2013 there have been nine customized hosted groups to South Africa. 2019 and 2020 are sold out with a waitlist for 2021. In 2008, another client requested a hosted group 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 another trip hosted trips to Egypt in 2012. http://www.ngaire.smugmug.com This website show pictures from hosted trips from unique destinations: Antarctica, Arctic, Machu Picchu, Africa, India plus other pictures relating specifically to Keene Luxury Travel.

Keene Luxury Travel 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. With a need for more staff, Jennifer Bullock, a past Regent Seven Seas Cruises employee, joined Keene Luxury Travel in 2010. In 2011, Clay Keene joined the full time staff of Keene Luxury Travel having worked as an outside sales representative for the company for many years. In 2012, Penny Stafford joined Keene Luxury Travel. Starting in 2017, Nancy Golden joined the staff of Keene Luxury Travel. In early 2018, Heather Jones joined our company in an Administrative Accounting role. In 2019, both Kristyn Evans and Hunter Scheer joined the KLT Staff bringing with them 13 years experience in the cruise travel business.

Today's Keene Luxury Travel

In January 2015, we changed our name from Brown and Keene Travel to Keene Luxury Travel. With the building of our new offices we decided this fresh start warranted a change in the company name. There is no change in ownership or staff, it was simply a perfect and opportune time for a name change.

Keene Luxury Travel (formerly Brown & Keene Travel) 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 Keene Luxury Travel is to offer exemplary service and assist our clients in every way possible. The clients that travel on a regular basis on our hosted cruises and tours have formed relationships with the Keene Luxury Travel staff and other clients that are quite remarkable. Of all the success Keene Luxury Travel 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.

2015 Key Account Partner of the Year - from Regent Seven Seas Cruises

“Regent Seven Seas is pleased to recognize Keene Luxury Travel as our Key Account Partner of the Year for 2015. Keene Luxury Travel has been a longstanding partner to Regent Seven Seas and has consistently supported our three ships in the past and is having an exceptional year in 2016 including the Seven Seas Explorer. Their hallmark and strength are their groups, hosted by Ngaire and Ken and with each team member hosting a specific sailing date. In addition, their innovative marketing platform, Luxury Cruise Talk, is a great forum for discussion. When you combine this with their fantastic customer service, it’s a winning combination. We thank them for their continued support and are excited to recognize their accomplishments with this award.” -Jason Montague, President, Regent Seven Seas

Keene Luxury Travel Owners, Ngaire Keene Hutyra, Clay Keene, and Ken Hutyra