Skip to main content

Audley’s Lisa Fitzell reveals ‘retail hadn’t been on the cards’ before Kuoni closures

In depth
Emma Dooney
3 October 2026

Lisa Fitzell, recently appointed Managing Director for Audley Travel, says the luxury tour operator wasn’t planning a high street debut – until it was offered an opportunity it couldn’t resist. 

Lisa Fitzell
Audley Travel

The industry veteran spoke exclusively to TTG last week about Audley Travel’s retail expansion as it prepares to open its first-ever physical store next month. 

“Going into retail wasn’t on the cards, but when the opportunity came up, we thought, ‘That could be really interesting’,” Fitzell said. 

Audley Travel confirmed the milestone news in September, announcing it would be launching 12 John Lewis stores across the UK after signing a partnership deal with the British department store chain.