NEWS ROUND-UP
Millington takes on ex-Cook staff for two new stores
Millington Travel has opened high street stores in Rugby in Warwickshire, and Hinckley in Leicestershire, bringing its network to 14 across the Midlands. The Rugby agency at The Swan
Centre, Chapel Street, has five members of staff, while the Hinckley branch, on Castle Street, has a team of seven. Both stores have recruited ex-Thomas Cook staff. Nigel Armitage, co-founder of
Millington Travel, said: “We are delighted to be expanding into these two thriving towns. “We are also very pleased to have
been able to take on ex-Thomas Cook staff who have been without jobs since the Thomas Cook collapse in late September.” He added that the opening of the
stores was “great timing” because of the peak selling period in January and February. Established in 1972, Millington
Travel is owned by Nigel Armitage and Nick Bland and employs 89 people. The miniple is a member of The Travel Network Group and its headquarters are in Leicester.
comment: “People talk about the cruise industry being a specialist market as if it were a hindrance. It is the opposite” Robin Deller, page 22
Spear Travels eyes more shops as Kendrick joins
Juliet Dennis
Te Spear Travels Group is actively looking for more shops while also hoping to boost its trade profile following the appointment of Julie Kendrick. Kendrick joined the 12-branch
agency last week in the new role of group commercial and marketing manager from Midcounties Co-operative Travel, where she was head of commercial and marketing. Her appointment frees up group
operations director Trevor Davis to spend more time looking at growth opportunities. Te miniple, which has an
ultimate target of around 20 shops, is focusing on Essex, Oxfordshire and Dorset for expansion. Te group has one branch in
each county, while it has five in North Yorkshire and four in the West Midlands. Ten are branded Spear Travels and two are Broads Travel. Davis urged agents to get in touch.
He said: “It’s easier running three or four in an area than one. We will continue to keep our ears and eyes
Beverley Travel opens first store with six staff
A Yorkshire-based homeworker has taken his business on to the high street and recruited six staff. Beverley Travel owner Karl
Douglas opened his first shop in the East Yorkshire market town of Beverley last week. Tree of the six staff previously
10 16 JANUARY 2020
worked for Tomas Cook. Douglas said the response from local people had been “phenomenal”.
Karl Douglas and his team
Te agency has a receptionist to
welcome customers, so staff don’t have to interrupt consultations.
peeled for the right opportunities. Independent travel retailers who are retiring or selling up need to tell us.” In North Yorkshire, Spear
recently shut its Leyburn branch and relocated its Northallerton store to premises three times larger. In Dorset, it has closed its
Sturminster Newton shop and relocated the team to a new store in the busier town of Blandford. Davis added: “No retailer enjoys
shuting stores but the economics tell you it’s the right thing to do and
Julie Kendrick
If we have more
proactive relationships with our key partners then that will bring more business
already Blandford is performing really well.” Kendrick’s appointment will raise
the miniple’s profile, added Davis. “Tere is no doubt Julie is highly regarded, very well known and liked. “Te group has been trading for
35 years, but we know that in some instances we are punching beneath our weight. “If we have beter and more
proactive relationships with our key partners then that will bring more business.” Kendrick, appointed following
the departure of marketing manager Ben Farbrother in December, said there were opportunities to increase sales in long-haul and luxury, but added: “Te priority is to get the marketing strategy tied down.”
Douglas said: “We have a fantastic
work ethic already, and there is no area of travel that we are weak on. “We have lots of experience, in
business travel, leisure and cruise.” Te agency has joined Te
Advantage Travel Partnership because “they ticked all the boxes for business and leisure”, Douglas added. Te new store is located in
Beverley’s Flemingate Shopping Centre, close to Beverley Minster, which features on the agency’s logo. Douglas set up Beverley Travel as a homeworking business in 2017.
travelweekly.co.uk
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