ttglive.com Family business comes home
Sophie Griffiths. AN EAST Sussex-based independent travel agency is celebrating plans to open its second high-street shop. Southern Cross Travel, which specialises in long-haul destinations such as New Zealand, Australia and the US, opened its first shop six years ago in Rye. Now the family-run agency is preparing to
open its second premises next month, in the family’s home town of Wadhurst.
Anneka Bones, junior consultant and daughter of the owners, Penny and Trevor Bones, said despite the turmoil that hit the travel industry last year, the family felt the time was now right to open a store on their own high street.
news “This is our home town – we know the commu-
nity well and wanted a presence here,” she said. “There are a lot of families going through the village on the school run that we want to target.” Bones said she thought the travel difficulties of 2010 had helped restore faith in agents. “Last year was tough, with the ash crisis and the snow, and the recent situa- tion in Egypt hasn’t helped, but faith is coming back to the high street. People had bad experiences on the internet – they realised that when you book online, there is no one to call if you get stuck. “We were working on Boxing Day to sort out flights for people affected by the
snow in the US. They knew they had someone looking after them, and our customers seem to spread the word. We’ve noticed more of a return- ing trade in Rye – we’re getting more regulars.” Bones said the business was keen to push the
values of TTG’s Trust in Travel Agents campaign. “We’ve got TTG’s charter in the window and we always wear the badges,” she added. “Community is especially important to us, as we know everyone in the village.”
From left: Anneka Bones, Trevor Bones, Penny Bones and colleague Sally Brown outside the new agency in Wadhurst, East Sussex
The family hope to expand further eventually, with plans to open a new shop in Tunbridge Wells, as well as elsewhere in the region.
TO VIEW OUR NEW SANDALS INTERACTIVE SUPPLEMENT PLEASE VISIT
WWW.SANDALSINTERACTIVE.CO.UK
More Watersports & Motorised Waterskiing • Unlimited Scuba Diving • Free Unlimited Rounds Of Golf • More Bars • Unlimited Premium Brand Liquors • Exclusive Beringer®
Wines On The House • Free Martha
Stewart Wedding • Most Unique Suites More Dining Choices • Caribbean’s Best Beaches • Up To 12 Restaurants Per Resort • English Guild Trained Butlers Included • More Botanical Gardens • Caribbean’s Best Beaches
SAVE 30% EXTRA £300
PLUS UP TO AN
PER COUPLE HURRY! BOOK BY 28 FEB
* *
CONTACT YOUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Call Agency Sales 020 7590 0210
Email
agencysales@sandals.co.uk Visit
www.sellingsandals.co.uk
WORLD’S LEADING ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS
17 YEARS RUNNING
UP TO
EARN £5 FOR EVERY BOOKING
To find out more ask your Business Development Manager
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60