Tui expands retail network with two new shops in east of England

Tui Group chief executive Sebastian Ebel outlined plans to up the number of Tui shops in the UK this week during a quarterly results call. 

He said he hoped to add more shops “not by 100 or 200 but smaller numbers”. 

With the additional two shops in County Durham and Suffolk, the travel giant now has 327 branches across the UK, with 21 of them being in Next stores. 

The Bishop Auckland shop’s features include customer booths, a double bureau exchange counter, advice bar and coffee machine. 

Emma Love, retail manager of Tui Bishop Auckland, said: “In the first day of opening, we welcomed hundreds of customers in and booked dream destinations for many travellers. 

“The feedback we have had about the store has been fantastic with many customers being delighted to have us on the high-street, with many saying they feel like they are on holiday the moment they walk in.” 

She added: “Marella cruises have been the front-runner in popularity so far with European destinations such as Spain and Greece not being far behind. 

“The team all have particular expertise across cruise, Europe, the Caribbean, the US and Asia, so we are ready to help our customers explore the world and create lasting memories with their loved ones.’’