National newspapers to launch retail travel agency

News UK is currently recruiting staff for the travel agency and is looking for candidates with a “strong background in luxury travel and tailor-made holidays and an understanding of The Times brand and readership”.  

“By launching Times Travel in-house, The Times retains full control over the customer experience, ensuring the brand is consistent throughout the entire journey,” explained Sanders.

“This also helps the company gather valuable insights, increase customer loyalty, maintain editorial integrity and create a smoother process from reading travel content to booking trips.”

Sanders added that all suppliers to Times Travel will have to be “editorially approved”, which will include “due diligence on a company’s background, its track record in operations and customer service, its commitment to sustainability and animal welfare, its customer ratings and our experts’ direct experience of it”.

“While it’s not explicitly required for hotels or properties to have been featured in The Times’ travel section, there is likely a preference for properties that align with the publication’s editorial content,” she said.