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Lobby group hails MPs progress Juliet Dennis


The UK Outbound Travel Group says it is starting to make headway with MPs after helping to facilitate 70 meetings with travel firms. The lobby group’s MP


engagement programme, which invites MPs to meet travel firms in their constituency, has led to 50 meetings since the organisation’s launch in 2022, with a further 20 to be held in the coming months. Meetings span the group’s


members in the Advantage Travel Partnership; Aito, The Specialist Travel Association; and Abtot, and are supported by briefing packs to prepare firms for discussions. More than 300 MPs have entered


Parliament since Labour came to power and many of the meetings


MP Damian Hinds (centre) meets members of Naturetrek’s team “The MP engagement programme


is a great way of amplifying the voice of the sector. This, together with the work we do with ministers and policymakers in Westminster, means we have a ‘top down and bottom up’ approach to our political affairs work.” Wildlife operator Naturetrek, an


have been with these new MPs to educate them on the sector, said spokesperson and Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said. She acknowledged businesses


had different priorities, but stressed now was the time to put the effort in. “It’s important to do it now. We’ve got to build that understanding. There’s little point moaning about government not understanding us –


Travel Chaps agency expands into first high street store


Samantha Mayling


The two directors of homeworking agency Travel Chaps have picked up the keys to their first high street store, which will open in Lincoln next month. Matt Phillips and husband Ashley


are also taking on two experienced travel agents who will start in the shop next month, followed by an apprentice, who is being recruited via AS Training. The Not Just Travel agents


switched from their corporate business backgrounds to set up


6 29 MAY 2025


Travel Chaps from home in 2022 and since then the agency has “gone from strength to strength”, said Matt. It has grown from the spare


bedroom at home in Branston, near Lincoln, to an office built at home. “Customers can see us there, but


we wanted some separation, so we wanted retail premises,” said Matt. Decorators will begin the refit of


a former dry cleaners premises in the Bailgate area of Lincoln next week. A soft launch is set for June 17,


while plans are being made for an official launch in mid-July. “It has two areas – the front for


we have to do something,” she said. Lo Bue-Said was confident the


group’s work had already raised the sector’s profile. “A lot of MPs do not think travel agents exist, but the message is getting across. We continue to see a healthy appetite from MPs – many of whom are not familiar with the sector’s significant economic value – to meet with their local travel businesses,” she said.


Abtot and Aito member, recently hosted Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire, who said the meeting offered “valuable insight into the challenges facing the travel industry”. Lo Bue-Said admitted it was


“slow progress” getting recognition in government circles, but noted the group continued to grow. It now has eight members after


five firms – InteleTravel, Attraction Tickets, TMU Management, Travel Specialist Consultancy and Themis Advisory – joined earlier this year.


Matt (left) and Ashley Phillips


retail and the back can be a lounge with a TV and bubbles for customers, and more privacy,” said Matt. “It has free car parking and will be appointment-only.” He said the two recruits have


more expertise in the European family market than he and Ashley – and an additional recruit might be taken on later, on a hybrid basis. So far, the agency has focused on


tailor-made, safari, cruise, adventure and honeymoons. “Honeymoons have been a


big market for us and now these clients are having kids, so the staff


will offer an additional facet,” said Matt. “We also want to offer a more personalised service, such as printed tickets and ticket wallets. “The retail space helps us access


different customers.” The couple completed the


purchase last week while on a fact- finding mission in Mauritius and announced the news in a Facebook post on Monday, showing the keys to the shop. “The response has been amazing


– the post has had 10,000 views and we’ve had several hundred comments and emails,” said Matt.


travelweekly.co.uk


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