A’QTO in the Media
View a range of media articles from across the world which we have featured in recently. Whether it be travel insights and tips, a behind the scenes look into our story and background or sharing what we love about Italy and our tours, we hope you enjoy the articles.
Onya Magazine: Nancy De Losa, Co-Founder of A’qto
June 2025
Mr Porter: 7 Grown-Up Getaways For Guys Who Don’t Want A Boys’ Trip
June 2025
It was great to have our tours featured in Jonathan Thompson’s article on Mr Porter as one of the 7 Grown Up Getaways for Guys who don’t want a Boys Trip. Jonathan reports that there is a growing majority of men looking for a more rewarding group trip.
9 Travel: Lesser-known spots in Italy that provide a calmer alternative to overcrowded hotspots
June 2025
Reader's Digest: 12 Tips for Long Flights from People Who Travel for a Living
The New Luxury? Quiet Roads, Warm Hosts, and Homemade Pasta – Redefining indulgence in the Italian countryside
May 2025
How To Create A Travel Experience That Keeps People Coming Back For More
May 2025
In this recent interview with Authority Magazine, Nancy shared with journalist Savio P. Clemente some of the thinking, personal approach and unique experience that we bring to our tours, which sees many guests joining us on multiple tours, and in diverse destinations across Italy.
For us, having guests who appreciate what we do, and then repeat guests with whom we create multiple diverse and memorable experiences together, is our greatest joy and measure of success – and it’s ultimately why we love what we do.
Why Adventure Travelers Are Saying ‘No’ to the U.S.
April 2025
9 Travel features A'QTO as part of The 'active holiday' trend that's on the rise in 2025
March 2025
On 5th March 2025, it was great to be featured as part of 9Travel’s article on The ‘active holiday’ trend that’s on the rise in 2025. Zara Zadro reported how 51% more Aussie travellers have been seeking out active escapes in the past year, with cycling, hiking and walking at the forefront, and France and Italy topping the list of dream destinations for a cycling holiday.
Enjoying the Italian Cycle of Life as featured in TravelTalk
March 2025
On 6th March 2025, Travel Talk published a Q&A with Nancy, highlighting the bespoke, owner-led nature of our Italian cycling tours and the experience guests can expect on tour with us.
3AW’s A Moveable Feast talks with us about ‘A Slice of Italy at Home’
July 2020
On Saturday 25th July 2020, we had the great opportunity to participate in an interview with 3AW’s A Moveable Feast. As hosts Ross Stevenson and Stephen Quartermain spoke to listeners about the first thing they will do post lockdown, we spoke about our upcoming Cycling & Gourmet Escapes in Bright and Daylesford, and also about our Italian Tours. Our interview starts at the 11:20 minute mark of the segment.
Our Local Tours ‘A Slice of Italy at Home’ featured in The Australian
July 2020
It was fantastic to have our local Australian Tours featured in The Australian ‘Weekend Escapes’ as one of eight Great Escapes.
Nancy on Ticker.tv
June 2020
Nancy appeared on Ticker.tv to talk about our pivot to local Australian Tours in 2020 and how these Cycling and Gourmet Escapes will deliver ‘A Slice of Italy at Home’.
Having an OS Holiday without Leaving Australia
June 2020
Repeat Traveller magazine highlighting operators who are creating local experiences that mirror their overseas offerings, and it was great to have our Daylesford Cycling & Gourmet Escape featured.
Keeping Things Going
June 2020
Smart Company, talking to us about our virtual tours and what we are doing to “Keep things Going” while restricted during 2020. As a publication that focuses on small to medium businesses doing innovative and creative things, it was a great opportunity to have our virtual tours featured as part of this article.
A Slice of Italy in Victoria’s Backyard
June 2020
Onya magazine, talking to us about what is involved in taking a local cycling experience, with a serious Italian flavour.
Melbourne Business Network hits the Media for Cycling
The Australian Newspaper
30 August 2014
It was great to see the Melbourne Business Network featured in an article in The Australian Newspaper – Professional section last Saturday.
A’QTO featured in My Entrepreneur Magazine
My Entrepreneur Magazine
April 28th, 2015
Creating a rich, authentic culture should be at the heart of any start-up. Jonathan Jackson speaks with Damian and Nancy Hancock about how they have built a genuine Italian lifestyle experience into their A’QTO brand of clothing.
It’s that love for what you do that usually propels you towards success; an ingrained passion that drives you forward and holds you strong to the values and vision around which a business is built.
For Damian Hancock it was his love of all things Italian that inspired A’QTO (pronounced ‘a-cue-tow’ and means acute or intense in Italian). Damian is a man who lives and breathes Italian; from the food, to the clothes and the way cyclists go about their cycling – riding hard and then stopping for a more relaxed bowl of pasta and a macchiato before rolling out for the ride home.
“There is a sense of freedom, speed and rhythm with cycling that I wanted to bring to the brand, but also to create a community of passionate cyclists who are bound by history, relevance and a rich culture,” Damian says.
Damian’s wife Nancy, whom he met at a cycling event and just happens to be Italian herself, says, “What Damian brings to A’QTO is a deep knowledge and appreciation of cycling history and culture. He knows what the cyclist knows, and with this knowledge is developing a sub-culture around the cyclist ‘in the know’. There is a niche culture and community that we are building; a community of likeminded cyclists who appreciate the history and rich culture of the sport.”
Damian continues, “We researched the history and culture of cycling; who the main players were and their stories. We looked at the style and panache of the races of bygone eras and all of that fed into where we wanted to push the brand from a lifestyle perspective.”
As well as creating a cultural zeitgeist, Damian wanted to build a product that was high quality. The fact that he had production management, budgeting and timeline skills from his previous life as a Print Production Manager with advertising firm McCann meant he was confident in taking a more entrepreneurial path. He says without those production and project management skills, he probably would not have been able to take the start-up journey.
