Geopolitical uncertainties have boosted consumer demand for the reassurance provided by high street agents, reports Juliet Dennis


I


ndependent travel agents continue to expand on the high street but say a more cautious approach to future


openings is inevitable due to the current climate. Agencies that have announced


new branches in recent months include Bordessa Holidays, Beverley Travel Group, JLM Travel, Premier Travel, GoCruise & Travel, Hays Travel and Ashdown Travel, while Idle Travel and Miles Morgan Travel are among those set to open new branches this summer. This is despite growing fears


about the impact of cost-of-living pressures and economic and geopolitical uncertainty due to the war in the Middle East. Consortia point to a growing


need for in-person reassurance and underlying holiday demand for the continued confidence in the high street, stressing members have no plans to pause new openings. Advantage Travel Partnership


reported its rate of openings over the past six weeks was “broadly similar” to this time last year. “We’re aware of members who have signed leases recently and are


8 21 MAY 2026


pressing ahead with their openings. Despite the challenging trading environment, these members remain confident consumer demand will be strong going forward,” said the consortium’s customer success director David Moon. He added: “Many believe


the current situation presents an opportunity for independent agents, as more consumers seek the reassurance, expertise and personal service that agents are uniquely placed to provide.” But he conceded most openings


would have been planned “well in advance of the current Middle East crisis”, with agents committed to lease agreements and other contractual obligations. And he cautioned: “We’d


expect those in the earlier stages of planning to take a more considered approach to timing, ensuring any new launch can be carried out in a more favourable trading environment.” The Travel Network Group chief


operating officer Stephanie Slark noted optimism despite the current climate, adding: “While future high street openings will naturally depend on wider global events and


The landscape has


changed – any physical presence needs to be carefully considered


economic pressures, our members remain confident travel demand will rebound.” She also stressed the resilience


of high street trading during the Middle East crisis. “Customers are increasingly seeking the expertise and reassurance that comes from booking through a trusted agent,” she said.


Large players Larger high street agencies were bullish about expanding in the near future. Hays Travel, which has around 530 stores nationwide, has “other sites in the pipeline” after opening its latest store, in Harlow, Essex, in April. A spokeswoman said: “We


continue to grow our retail estate as the right premises become available where our customers are.” Barrhead Travel, which has 45


stores, said it continued to “explore opportunities” to grow where it sees the right combination of “demand,


strong local high streets and long- term potential” despite recent events. Managing director Nicki


Tempest-Mitchell said: “Like many, we’ve had one or two global distractions to navigate this year, so our expansion plans haven’t been front and centre. But new store openings remain very much part of our future.” She pledged the agency’s


commitment to the high street in the longer term, adding: “There’s still real strength in retail stores.”


Miniples Kuoni’s announcement last week that it was to shut its 10 John Lewis outlets and its Winchester high street store was accompanied by a strong promise to invest in the group’s remaining standalone stores and open a new branch in Bristol. This year has already seen Fred


Olsen Travel and Premier Travel grow their high street networks at a faster pace than in 2025 – but both suggested they would take a considered approach to future openings. Fred Olsen Travel acquired three


agencies in February and March, incorporating one into an existing branch and rebranding the other two.


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