London agency to leave the high street after 25 'wonderful' years
Ilaria Grasso MacolaLondon agency Travel Matters has decided to leave the high street after 25 years and go fully remote, calling time on what it described as a “wonderful chapter” in the business’s history while looking ahead positively to the next.
Travel Matters founder Karen Simmonds told TTG the move had been in the works for 18 months, citing a drop in footfall and changes in staff working patterns.
“We’ve been doing a bit of hybrid work,” she said. “And the lease is coming to an end on Monday (25 March) – we’ve decided we are not going to renew it.”
Simmonds said the change wouldn’t impact clients, with the team keeping in constant touch through daily Zoom meetings and weekly in-person meet-ups.
After Easter, Simmonds will host a weekly surgery at Clapham’s Bistro No3, Nightingale Place – just round the corner from Travel Matters’ former Blandfield Road premises with its distinctive purple branding – for those clients still wishing to book in-person.
“We certainly don’t want our customers to think that we’re abandoning them,” she added. “The surgery is outward-facing – it’ll just be me with my computer, having a coffee.”
Over the past quarter of a century, Travel Matters has forged a reputation for promoting meaningful, sustainable travel, building up a community of climate and sustainability-conscious travellers in southwest London.
Its trailblazing Make Travel Matter campaign has been central to its ethos, combining a pledge to organise and sell holidays that minimise the negative impacts of travel while maximising quality, and a commitment to educating travellers on how they can make a difference on their adventures.
The business became B Corp Certified last May following a 16-month assessment process, gauging its commitment to the highest environmental and social standards.
Simmonds, meanwhile, is among the nominees for The Intrepid Travel Sustainable Travel Champion Awards at this year’s Top 50 Travel Agencies by TTG.
’Wonderful chapter’
Posting to Facebook late last week, the agency said: "Today marks the end to a wonderful chapter in Travel Matters’ 25-year history as we are leaving our office and home for the last 25 years.
"We’ve packed away all our awards, brochures and very confidential travel files (including the very special one where we keep all our holiday offers!)."
It added: "We wanted to thank all our clients and partners for all their years of loyalty to Travel Matters. Although we have left 10 Blandfield Road, we are always available to you via phone, email, enquiry or meeting. Thank you and we can’t wait to help book your next holiday experience."
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