TTG Top 50 champion eyes more agencies ahead of new branch opening
Will PayneThe boss of ArrangeMY Escape, named the UK and Ireland’s best travel agency during last year’s TTG Top 50, has set her sights on entering the homeworking market and expanding the company’s high street presence as the agency readies to open a second branch.
Speaking to TTG, general manager of the Worcester-based agency Jennifer Lynch revealed plans to open the new store in Malvern at the start of May.
The firm will take on three staff members – all new to the travel industry – with Lynch expanding her duties to run both locations.
"It has been quite hard to recruit experience, which is the same situation across the industry at the moment," she said. "But when I opened our first store in Worcester I had the same sort of issue, but I created the team and built it up, and now we are a multiple award-winning agency."
Hiring staff with no prior travel experience was more of a positive than a hindrance, Lynch explained, as it allowed her to mould her team from scratch.
"I thought we would go down the similar path for the new store and hire people who have lots of potential and are really keen to do well and perform to a high level," Lynch continued.
Lynch has also recently hired two new agents, including an apprentice, at the Worcester store.
"The travel industry needs fresh blood at the moment," she urged. "It’s crucial to our – and the wider sector’s – success."
Based on market research, Lynch anticipates the new store will focus on cruise, ski, package and family holidays.
"It will be very similar to our current store, but it is hard to say exactly what the focus will be until customers come through the door," she continued.
"There isn’t an agency selling Jet2holidays in the town so maybe package trips will be popular, as well as family holidays. But we will have wait and see what works best."
Looking ahead, Lynch also revealed aspirations to enter the homeworking sector following the launch of the second location, as well as expanding ArrangeMY Escape’s presence on the high street even further.
"We would love to open more stores. The goal is to open six or eight stores at a maximum, as I don’t want to grow too big as I would like to keep it independent and we want to make sure we stay personal and not lose the beating heart of what we do.
"I’m feeling overwhelmed, excited, nervous, lucky – very lucky, actually – to be launching another shop. There’s a lot to do, but this is the next step for the agency, so it is really exciting."
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Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
