NEWS


Baldwins owner plans super-brand role for the agency


Lucy Huxley


The new owner of Baldwins Travel is to turn the company into the over-arching “super-brand” as it plans to acquire other agencies, launch a UK-wide retail concept and develop a digital presence. Inc & Co Group is also in talks to


acquire a specialist tour operator and has bought its first hotel in Turkey, with plans for two more properties in Europe in the next two years. Speaking exclusively to Travel


Weekly, chief executive Jack Mason said other companies “in a similar position to Baldwins” had approached the firm. Inc & Co now owns 100%


of the miniple, which has eight branches in Kent and East Sussex. “We are having conversations with a


number of parties,” said Mason. “Every business has struggled through Covid.” He said he was negotiating with


agencies in Manchester, Newcastle and Loughborough, adding: “Baldwins will be the super-brand in terms of the name. It’s a strong brand down south and we’re looking to expand it. We can push the Baldwins name even further.” Inc & Co is “weeks” from signing


a lease on a “very big shopping centre in the north” where Mason plans the first in a series of “a totally new retail concept”, combining workspace with


leisure, retail, food and drink – and now Baldwins Travel. “City councils like it so much they


are giving us millions of pounds to fit it out,” he added, saying it would work on high streets in places such as Kingston, Stevenage and Watford, as well as large shopping centres. The idea is to combine Inc & Co’s


brands in one space, so businesses can “cross-pollinate”. Other brands include salad bar Chop’d, laundry app Laundrapp, luggage label Knomo and oat milk brand Gut Instinct. “You’ll be able to book a Baldwins holiday while having a coffee using


Nick Marks (left) and Chris Marks flank Inc & Co’s


Lynne Makinson-Walsh, Jack Mason and Dave Antrobus


our oat milk, travel with our Knomo luggage and when you return you can get your laundry done with Laundrapp,” he said. Baldwins will also soon be selling


holidays to Inc & Co’s new hotel in Kuşadasi, due to open in April 2022 after refurbishment. Mason also plans investment in digital to attract new online customers with an “edgier brand, powered by Baldwins”. “We don’t want to change the


Baldwins brand, but we believe there’s a market we can tap into with


a different edge,” he said. › Special Report, page 8


De Vial raises over £13k for FHA Ian Taylor


Abta special advisor and former director of financial services John de Vial finished his eighth London Marathon in aid of the Family Holiday Association on Sunday. His latest run had raised £13,406


as Travel Weekly went to press, taking the total De Vial has raised over eight runs since 2014 to £120,644. De Vial described himself as


“tired” afterwards, saying: “I found it really tough this year.” However, he completed the course having not fully recovered from the 100km Thames Path Challenge he undertook in aid of Abta LifeLine in September. De Vial said: “I fear Abta LifeLine’s


travelweekly.co.uk


case load will increase in the winter. The need to help industry colleagues has never been greater.” The London Marathon will


“probably” be his last, he added, as he retires from Abta at the end of December. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer


paid tribute to De Vial last month, telling Travel Weekly: “John has done a tremendous job for Abta members. His experience is irreplaceable, but he has conducted a very good handover.” De Vial was joined on the course


by industry colleagues Lucia Rowe, UK boss of A-Rosa River Cruises, and Caribtours managing director Paul Cleary. Cosmos and Avalon Waterways chief executive Giles


John de Vial in his eighth London Marathon on Sunday


Hawke ran a virtual marathon. Rowe raised more than £3,500 for


the FHA. Hawke was fundraising for Abta LifeLine and Cleary ran to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.


late to donate! It’s not too


l John de Vial Family Holiday Association tinyurl.com/johnmarathon21


l Lucia Rowe Family Holiday Association tinyurl.com/luciamarathon21


l Giles Hawke Abta LifeLine tinyurl.com/gilesmarathon21


l Paul Cleary Macmillan Cancer Support tinyurl.com/paulmarathon21


7 OCTOBER 2021


7

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