Top 50 - Yorkshire - Olive Lounge Travel, CrossHills

This agency, founded by directors Gillian Polyhos and Joanne Edwards, has been busy installing new fittings such as windows, doors and a neon sign in its shop front in a bid to attract as many new customers as possible. 

Once inside, clients can take in a breath of fresh air due to a living OLT sign and an aromatherapy diffuser, and once settled will be warmly greeted with a fresh coffee or tea, local Grandma Wild biscuits and a smiling face.

The team at Olive Lounge Travel has almost 100 combined years of travel experience, and each advisor has their own particular expertise, including Disney, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the Maldives. 

To further enhance their knowledge sets, the team take part in a number of training initiatives, run by Gillian and Joanne, through online seminars, in-person events and meetings with suppliers. 

A key indication of success for the firm is mental wellbeing, which is measured and supported through regular one-to-one catch ups, staff bonuses, pizza and fizz Fridays, and childcare support if a team member is struggling. 

In a bid to reach more customers, OLT has focused on its social media presence through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and regularly hosts “dine and learn” events with customers in local restaurants, helping to boost its ties with the local community and support new and existing clients with upcoming holidays.

The company also employs a car share policy for three members of the team, which saves up to 17 car journeys a week on average and introduced an in-store re-use policy last year which has seen the agency print less, recycle more and change the material its Welcome Home cards are printed on from paper to repurposed elephant dung and cotton fibres. 

The store also launched a humanitarian appeal last year in support of Ukraine, which saw the agency donate hundreds of essential items to a local collection point.

oliveloungetravel.co.uk