Agency adds store and eyes 300 homeworkers


Juliet Dennis


Experience It Now Travel has opened a fourth high street shop as it targets expansion of its homeworking arm to reach 300 by the end of this year. The agency’s new Hailsham


branch joins the group’s existing East Sussex branches in Eastbourne, Seaford and Peacehaven. It is run by up to three existing


staff from the business, but will recruit more as needed. Director Richard Light said:


“We’ve been wanting a fourth shop for some time and looked at several other towns in Sussex. This one came up in a good location on the high street in one of our target areas.” The group’s shop-based agents act


as support staff for its homeworkers, which currently number 200, with both arms of the business growing in tandem as a result. Light hopes to take on a further


100 homeworkers to reach 300 by the end of this year, which could trigger the opening of a fifth high street shop to provide the necessary sales support. Light, who runs the business with


his wife and co-director Caroline, said: “Our theory is that as we grow and need more support staff for the


Richard Light and Caroline Light flank the Hailsham store’s Alison Williams, Tracey Weller and Nick Simkin


homeworkers, rather than getting a bigger office we’ll open another shop. It’s [also a way of] building our brand in our Sussex area. “There are another couple of


towns we will keep an eye on. We’ll probably have another shop by the time we have 300 homeworkers.” The number of homeworkers


increased from 80 in 2024 to 185 in 2025, with sales up nearly 400% last year on the previous year. The agency offers training and


sales support to homeworkers until 10pm seven days a week, using staff in store in the day and at home on a rota system in the evenings.


Blue Bay eyes acquisitions after ‘multimillion-pound’ investment


Blue Bay Travel is to target acquisitions after securing a “multimillion-pound” investment to fuel growth. The unspecified injection of funds has been led by the firm’s founder Stuart Wilson, alongside chairman Andrew Gardner and existing investor Lawrence Dean. The deal sees the trio increase their investment, with long-term private equity backer LDC continuing as a shareholder.


8 5 FEBRUARY 2026 Homeworkers – whose varied


backgrounds include banking, nursing and the police – receive a 70% split of net commission earnings. “We have a mix of full and part-


time homeworkers. A lot are coming to the end of their careers and want to set up in travel in retirement,” said Light, adding: “We think 300 is a good number to concentrate on.” Experience It Now Travel also


owns cruisemore.co.uk, which it plans to promote more heavily. About one-third of shop sales are cruises, and homeworkers are encouraged to specialise in areas such as cruise, added Light.


GoCruise & Travel opens fifth


branch with Manningtree store GoCruise & Travel has expanded its network to five branches with the opening of a new shop in Manningtree, Essex, on Saturday. The agency, which is part of the Fred Olsen Travel Group, is run by franchisees Karen and Mark Stanley and specialises in tailor-made holidays and cruises.


Tributes paid to industry stalwart Darren Hilsdon


Tributes have been paid to Southampton Cruise Centre cruise concierge Darren Hilsdon (pictured) after his death aged 59. Hilsdon, whose career included


roles with Travel 2 and The Co-operative Travel as well as the Travel Village Group-owned brand, died on January 15. Travel Village Group co-owner


Phil Nuttall hailed Hilsdon as a “much-loved and highly respected member of the UK travel industry”. He said: “Darren was someone


I had the privilege of working alongside for more than 25 years, but more importantly someone I was proud to call a friend.” Nuttall added: “While Darren


was proud of his career in travel, his greatest loves in life were music – playing in the band Venezuela Venezuela and plucking his guitar in his loft – and, most importantly, his beautiful daughter, Anna, whom he absolutely adored.” Alistair Rowland, Blue Bay


Travel chief executive and former Co-op Travel chief, said: “Darren loved the travel industry and lived life to the full around it. RIP Darren, you will be remembered with fondness.”


Celebrity River Cruises doubles planned fleet to 20 ships by 2031


Celebrity River Cruises is to double its planned river cruise ship fleet to 20 vessels. The growth plans by the river cruise new-entrant will see an additional 10 ships built by 2031 and will see the line become one of the largest river cruise operators in Europe. Celebrity is due to make its debut river sailing in 2027, with bookings also now open for its 2028 season.


travelweekly.co.uk


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