Spear Travels marks 40th and eyes ‘careful growth’


Juliet Dennis


Travel agency chain Spear Travels is poised for further ‘careful’ growth following 40 years on the high street. The group marked the milestone


with a two-day celebration during which customers and local businesses were invited to toast the anniversary in stores, where exclusive discounts and prize giveaways were on offer. Group managing director Peter


Cookson said the agency continued to thrive despite the impact of the pandemic and would look to expand further. He said: “We are immensely


proud of everything that has been achieved throughout our journey, in particular in the very recent challenging times of the pandemic. “We are going from strength to


strength with our amazing teams, who have a vast range of experience and deliver exceptional customer service. We hope to continue the careful expansion of the business in due course.” The first Spear Travels shop


opened in Upminster in 1983, with a second launched 13 years later in 1996 by current director Derek Adams in Stoke-on-Trent. That same year, the agency


The company thanked


staff for their service and celebrated with giveaways and discounts for customers


We are going from


strength to strength with our amazing teams – we hope to continue the careful expansion


went on to launch another store in Boroughbridge, which was opened by directors Peter and Libby Cookson. Since then the chain has continued to expand – it now has 11 branches and 10 homeworkers, called associates. Directors put the group’s success


down to providing the right mix of specialist and tailor-made itineraries


Travel agents and airlines buck


trend of consumer cutbacks Travel defied a downturn in consumer outlay last month with spending growth at travel agencies and airlines way ahead of all other sectors. Barclays data on card spending in March shows consumers making further cutbacks, except for travel with overall year-on-year growth of more than 24%. Within this, agents achieved the highest level of spending growth across all sectors barring utilities.


8 13 APRIL 2023


for clients, along with the expertise and customer service of its staff. The company praised staff for


their knowledge – and in many cases long service – as a result of worldwide fam trips and product training. Cookson also thanked loyal customers for continuing to book through the company. He added: “We would like to


put on record our appreciation of all our loyal customers, many of whom have booked with us since the beginning of our journey – some even when Derek, Libby and I were homeworkers for the company in the early 1990s. Without their custom we wouldn’t be where we are today.”


Lutoff-Perlo to take new role at


Royal Caribbean Group in May Celebrity Cruises president and chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo will step down and take up the new role of vice-chair of external affairs for Royal Caribbean Group from May 1. Laura Hodges Bethge, currently executive vice- president of shared services operations, will become Celebrity Cruises’ next brand president.


Harris leaves A&K to take lead trade sales role at Exsus


Exsus Travel has appointed Mark Harris as head of trade sales. Harris has nearly 30 years’


experience in the travel industry, beginning his career as a manager at Thomas Cook before roles at Wendy Wu Tours, Qantas Holidays and Global Travel Group. He joins Exsus Travel from


Abercrombie & Kent, where he was trade sales manager for four years. In his new role, Harris will be


responsible for the agency’s trade sales, which currently account for 85% of its business. Managing director Habib


Rehman said: “We’re delighted that Mark is joining the Exsus family. “He is well respected in the


industry and a familiar face to many and we have no doubt he’ll continue to build meaningful relationships with our valued travel agents.” Harris replaces Neil Sealy, who


has joined Barcelona-based tour operator Exoticca as managing director after five years with Exsus. Sealy has outlined plans to


hammer out commercial deals with all key agency groups in the coming months, prior to recruiting a trade sales team. Exoticca has


operated in the UK since 2017, but is currently not sold by UK agents.


Mark Harris Barrhead Travel seeks new hires


following bumper start to year The homeworking division of Barrhead Travel is looking for new members after a 35% rise in bookings so far this year over 2022. Brilliant Travel has already seen 20% growth in recruits this year, and the group expects to attract further independent travel experts before the summer season begins. The group’s homeworkers had a record-breaking year in 2022, with trade up 50% on 2019.


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