TTG 30 Under 30 alumnus goes from A&K Harrods' top seller to luxury agency owner
Harry Wignall, former Abercrombie & Kent platinum travel executive and an alumnus of TTG’s 30 Under 30 class of 2022, explains why he’s leaving the luxury giant and launching his own luxury agency, Wimeya.
Seven years ago graduate Harry Wignall was relaxing by a pool in the Philippines when he had a “lightbulb moment” that one day he should channel his passion for exploring the world into running his own travel business.
He returned home and secured a role as travel executive at Abercrombie & Kent’s Harrods boutique, and today (29 November), launches his own luxury agency, Wimeya.
Wignall joined A&K after graduating from Oxford Brookes University in 2016, rising to become a platinum travel executive and receiving the luxury operator’s award for top salesperson in 2019 and 2021, before hitting a record £4 million in sales in 2022. Having built a portfolio of 150 active guests, he felt ready to take his career to the next stage. He explains: “I was beginning to get to the limits of always being able to provide the service level [my clients’] needed, and that I wanted to deliver. I’m not sure there’s ever the ‘right’ time to launch your own business, but I felt I had the experience required to take the leap.”
Wignall has partnered with Hemisphere Travel Group, and will operate under the business’ Atol licence and using its bonded trust account. He will work from home in south-west London, visiting clients as needed across London.
They will deal directly with Wignall, who is focusing on personalised service, and creating “a connection from the initial booking onwards.”
He explains: “By tailoring each journey to the individual and maintaining open communication, we aim to build loyalty through relationships, not transactions. Monetary value of holidays is important, but once guests are confident they are paying the fair rate for such quality, it is the emotional value of their holiday that counts for more. Achieving that can require months and months of planning and countless interactions. That’s where the personal relationship comes in.”
Wignall discussed his plans with some of his fellow alumni from TTG’s 30 Under 30 class of 2022, who reassured him that launching his own business “was the right thing to do”. He explains: “Being part of the TTG 30 Under 30 broadened my understanding of what’s out there and what my capabilities are – it’s an extremely talented pool of young people. I’ve learnt so much from all of them and have been able to build that self confidence to feel like I’m absolutely where I should be. I’m very grateful to have been part of this fantastic cohort.”
Wignall is confident referrals and recommendations will help him build a strong customer base, and he has a network of close contacts in travel, business and finance. “I’ve been working with guests like this for seven years and that experience has taught me how this market works, what might interest this type of guest and the service level they expect,” he adds.
“At A&K Harrods, I learned the immense value of building genuine, trusting relationships with each guest. Discerning travellers choose to work with advisors who take a personal interest in understanding their preferences and go the extra mile to meet their needs.”
He says his time with Abercrombie & Kent has given him the “experience, platform, and knowledge to be able to bring my passion to life”, adding: “From graduate to business owner, I’ve learnt so much, met so many amazing people and I’ll forever be grateful.”
The business’ name was born after Wignall combined his middle name, William, with May, the middle name of his girlfriend Victoria, tweaking the new word until he developed Wimeya. “I did the necessary research to check it didn’t mean anything offensive in another language, and discovered it means ‘creator’ in Tawala, an Oceanic language of Papua New Guinea, which felt like the journey to find a name had come full circle,” he adds.
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