Agency signs apprentices to ease staffing pressures
Juliet Dennis
A travel agency in Suffolk is a step closer to fully reopening a second of its three shops after taking on two apprentices plus a former cruise boss. Only Travel Stop’s branch in
Claydon currently opens six days a week. Its Hadleigh and Elmswell stores open on specified days due to staffing issues stemming back to the pandemic. Travel Stop, which pre-Covid
focused on recruiting experienced staff, has taken on two apprentices in the past 18 months. In addition, it has recently been joined by Tradewind Voyages founder Stuart Mcquaker, enabling its Hadleigh branch to open three three days a week instead of one. Owner Bridget Keevil took on
Ellen Boardley, 19, in September 2022 after seeing her help to book her family’s holiday to Walt Disney World Resort Florida through Travel Stop. “When we saw what a whizz
she was sorting out the theme park tickets and making plans for their holiday, we offered her an apprenticeship,” said Keevil. “I could not wish for a better
recruit; she has set the bar very high.” Last September, the agency
took on a second apprentice, Olivia Wilkins. “Both girls get on well, and
Bridget Keevil with Ellen Boardley (left) and Olivia Wilkins
Travel Counsellors buys travel tech platform Planisto
Travel Counsellors has acquired travel technology platform Planisto and its development team of three staff for an undisclosed sum. The deal is Travel Counsellors’
second acquisition in its 30-year history, following that of Holidaysplease in March 2023. The homeworking agency said
the move cements its “focus and investment in the premium travel market”, and comes after it reported record trading, with bookings up 23% year on year to £933 million. Planisto enables agents to create
and manage complex, personalised itineraries for customers. Planisto’s software will be
integrated into Travel Counsellors’ Phenix platform. In a statement, Travel
we’ve already seen Ellen mentoring Olivia,” said Keevil, who said it helped that the apprentices had experience of using an agency. She added: “We knew both
families through using our services, so they already knew the value of using an agent.” Boardley, who is due to complete
her Level 3 Travel Consultant apprenticeship this month, said: “My family have used Travel Stop for years and my mum mentioned I wanted to be an agent. I’m really enjoying it.” Wilkins agreed: “I’m loving it. I
enquired about a trainee role after my A-levels as I had a passion for travel.”
Uniworld to host 50 agents at luxury event in India in June
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will host 50 agents on a seven-night ultra-luxury showcase in India in June, with hotel stays in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and a three-night Ganges river sailing. The operator is giving agents the chance to win one of three places on the trip for themselves and a plus-one by making two Uniworld bookings in January, February or March.
8 4 JANUARY 2024 Meanwhile, Mcquaker, who now
works part-time as a self-employed projects manager for Travel Stop, is using his local contacts to drive enquiries and setting up tour operator presentations for clients in the Hadleigh branch. His earnings are dependent on bookings. Keevil now hopes the Hadleigh
office will gradually reopen more days and ultimately return to opening Monday to Saturday. Elmswell is still open only one
day a week. “It is the smallest with the least footfall, so will be the last one we concentrate on opening up,” Keevil added.
Well-known industry couple open luxury agency in Essex
A husband-and-wife team were due to open their first travel agency on January 4. Vaycay Luxury Travel was set up by Colin Pegler, chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation UK & Europe, and Paula Whitehead, formerly head of long-haul purchasing at British Airways Holidays. The agency is in Witham, Essex.
Counsellors said many of its agents in the Netherlands and Belgium had already used the Planisto software, “affirming its proven success and strong position to support the wider global community”. Chief executive Steve Byrne
said: “In addition to strengthening our proprietary tech and talent, the deal will further accelerate our development roadmap for our digital, personal platform Phenix, and enhance the end-customer booking experience.” Travel Counsellors said in
November that it planned to invest £15 million in technology this year.
Barclays report shows spend on travel rose by 15% last year
Travel agents and airlines achieved “robust” growth in 2023, according to the latest Barclays consumer card spending report. It showed outlay at travel agencies up 10.4% over 2022 levels, with transactions rising by 11.8%. Spending with airlines grew by 30.8% year on year, with transactions up 28.7%. Total travel spend was up by 15.2%, with transactions rising by 11.4%.
travelweekly.co.uk
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 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
