Larry & Laura Martin

Larry and Laura Martin are the husband and wife team behind The HMS Travel Group and its educational tour division; Food and Wine Trails.

Inspired by their love of travel and their belief in the insights to be gained from sharing the pleasures of the table, they started producing their own brand of innovative food and wine tours in 1985. Larry and Laura create the kinds of travel experiences they themselves would like, experiences that connect people and place. The company maintains a worldwide network of food and wine experts and guides around the world and through that, they’ve custom-built tours for some of America’s top universities and food and wine organizations. Larry has been recognized for that work, by being named by the editors of Conde Nast Traveler for the past three years as the “World’s Top Travel Specialist” in wine travel.

The Martins recognize “the connection between plate and planet” and believe in the importance of giving back to their community through non-profit work. They are highly involved in Slow Food — the international organization promoting all that is local seasonal, artisanal and sustainable in world food cultures. Larry sits on the board of the School Garden Network, is a Rotarian and the Regional Governor for Slow Food in Northern California. Laura was the Treasurer for the Sonoma County Land Trust for 10-years and is a long-time leader of the Russian River Slow Food chapter www.slowfoodrr.org. Laura is also a wonderful cook, and Larry supplies her kitchen from his extensive vegetable garden and a not-so extensive wine-cellar.