YOUR STORIES SWORDS TRAVEL
Growth-focused agency hires general manager
London-based agency Swords Travel has recruited a general manager to help achieve its growth goals. Laura Hill has worked in the travel industry for more
than 25 years and spent nine years at Baldwins Travel until last November, most recently as head of retail. She has also spent time as a travel call centre manager at Interval International. Co-owner Mark Swords told Aspire: “We’re going
through quite a bit of growth at the moment and we just needed more support within the main business, so Laura is joining us at the perfect time. “Laura’s key responsibilities are to look after the
overall business from a UK perspective, which will give us the opportunity to grow further. Laura is going to be integral in making sure that we’re aligned in all parts of the business.” Hill is based at the Swords Travel store in Wimbledon
Village, but also supports the agency’s 14 homeworkers to help them develop their businesses and ensure the company meets its overall revenue target for 2025. Hill’s appointment follows a “significant” year for the
agency, which saw its sales increase by 45% year on year. It hopes to boost sales by a further 75% in 2025.
ARRANGEMY ESCAPE
Firm credits £100 voucher for boosting January sales
Worcestershire-based travel agency ArrangeMY Escape has attributed a 65% year-on-year rise in turnover in January to a voucher sent as a thank you to all clients who booked in 2024. Within two weeks of emailing the £100 voucher to 2,500
customers on New Year’s Eve, the two-branch agency recorded the same value of bookings as it had made during the whole of January in 2024. General manager Jennifer Lynch said the agency had been
“inundated” with enquiries. “The volumes have proved better than last year and the only thing we have done differently is the voucher,” she said, noting: “Customers have told us they are spending slightly more than they would have done because they have got £100 off.” Clients were required to book in January and spend a minimum of £2,500 per person. The voucher was valid for bookings made with the majority of ArrangeMY Escape’s suppliers, with the £100 coming off the commission earned by the agency on every booking. Lynch is considering sending out similar discounts
throughout the year. “I’m going to do it at different times of the year, as an incentive to get people who booked last Easter, for example, to rebook,” she said.
NEW RECRUIT:
Laura Hill with Stuart and Mark Swords
‘INUNDATED’: Jennifer Lynch
aspiretravelclub.co.uk
MARCH 2025 ASPIRE
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