The travel leader pumping youthful energy into the high street
From Althams Travel top seller by the age of 18 to travel agency owner at 23, Caitlan Grime isn’t afraid to take a risk. We learn about this TTG 30 Under 30 star’s journey so far
With a drive for sales, a love of customer-facing roles and punchy ambition, Caitlan Grime has achieved an impressive amount by the age of 25.
Joining Althams Travel as an apprentice aged 16, Caitlan threw herself into the world of retail travel and by 18 she enjoyed a stint as top seller among the company’s 33 branches.
“I have always been really ambitious. To achieve the top seller title I focused on groups such as hen parties, weddings, stag dos and birthday parties so I was booking high passenger numbers,” she explains.
By 19 she was promoted to assistant manager but when the Covid pandemic hit, Caitlan worried the retail travel world might never be the same and decided to make a change. She took an admin role with a luxury villa rental company but soon missed the buzz of sales and working directly with customers.
That was the moment Caitlan took a leap of faith and set up her own travel agency, The Departure Hub.
“At the time I planned for it to be a side job as I continued my admin role, but just as I got all my licences through and was set up with TTA (Travel Trust Association), a shop became available in my home town, Oswaldtwistle, between Blackburn and Accrington,” Caitlan notes.
Going against the advice of family, she made the call to take the shop and go full time with the business before making a single booking.
Soft launching online with a push on social media and some networking events, Caitlan drummed up excitement before opening the store in July 2022.
An apprentice, Ruby, joined the store in September 2023 and, fast forward to today, the business has a strong turnover with a nationwide client base.
Caitlan says she focuses on making sure all the little details are sorted for customers whether that is having tickets ready, making requests on their behalf or managing issues while they are travelling.
“When I set up the company, I was set on giving customers a more personal experience. I want them to come in and feel as though they know me personally. That is why they come back and it is why I will always keep the teams of staff within my stores as small as possible.”
Keen to give back to the community that has supported her, last Christmas Caitlan gifted a mini break to 20 less fortunate families.
“This was a great message to pass out to others that if you are fortunate enough to help out we should do what we can,” she says.
Growth mindset
Always looking ahead, Caitlan had a five-year plan to open a second store but given The Departure Hub’s success to date, she is already on the lookout for a new shop which she hopes to open by the end of her third year in business.
“Ultimately, I want to open a few more branches but ensure they keep that personal service. I also want to find homeworkers who can work under The Departure Hub brand beyond our local area,” she says.
Caitlan sees TTG’s 30 Under 30 as a platform to help her spread the word about her small business as well as an opportunity “to meet others with a growth mindset”.
While her own growth mindset shows no sign of waning, she adds that she can’t see herself losing her love of selling.
“I want to grow but I want to stay in branch myself and to remain customer facing as I just love selling so much.”
A sales superstar with strong business acumen and grand ambitions, Caitlan is forging her own path to success.
Meet the TTG 30 Under 30 class of 2024-25
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Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
