Olive Lounge Travel, Crosshills

Olive Lounge Travel, Crosshills
One of TTG’s Top 50 Travel Agencies 2020

Last year’s TTG Top 50 regional champion for Yorkshire continues to do things absolutely right; co-founders Gillian Polyhos and Jo Edwards have, over the past five years, built an enviable reputation in the community for a loyal customer base – in fact, repeat bookings and referrals now constitute 90% of Olive Lounge Travel’s business.

Its Crosshills base really succeeds in bringing travel to life. The shop is adorned with travel curios, including a newly acquired ex-airline seat, while its wall of clients’ postcards – affixed to a tree graphic that climbs from the floor to ceiling – sits proudly beneath the agency’s stirring “to travel is to live” moniker.

Inspirational travel videos, imagery and offers flash up on the store’s new 50-inch smart TV in the window, which is linked to a cloud platform that allows Olive Lounge Travel’s partners to push through their very latest offers and products as soon as they are launched. Pop in on a Friday to make your booking and enjoy a “fizz Friday” with the team too, and don’t forget to ask about the themed partner events to enjoy a glass or two, a meal and an in-depth holiday or destination update.

Over the past year, the team has worked hard to expand product knowledge; Gillian and Jo have spent time onboard Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, while other consultants have visited Dubai with Emirates, experienced new destinations in Sri Lanka, Florida and the Maldives, and refreshed their knowledge of European hotspots like Paris and Amsterdam. And when they’re not on their travels, staff complete supplier training and devote time to office-based learning.

The team is always ready to go the extra mile for each and every client, which extends to online check-in, pre-travel visa requirements and welcome home cards – a seamless journey from enquiry, booking and paperwork through to returning home – and the next enquiry.

Away from the store, the OLT team have a burgeoning online presence. Facebook followers increased by more than 2,000 to about 5,500 over the past year, placing the business as close as possible to clients wherever they are.

oliveloungetravel.co.uk