Revells Travel founder Jamie Revell has taken on Michael Weight as a director in the business, which he started in 2018.

The duo are old school friends, once owned a house together and worked together at Lotus Group, where Revell worked across corporate and leisure during his time at the company, which includes brands such as DialAFlight.

After a few years with a corporate travel business following his time there, Revell said he eventually decided to do his own thing, saying he wanted to “be more in touch with clients on the leisure side”.

Weight went to work with YourTravel after Lotus, but had to leave during the pandemic and had a year away from travel. But Revell said he “was very keen to get back into it – the timing was right for both of us”.

Revells Travel is based in Headcorn in Kent, where the two have an affluent client base, and while they work from home independently now, Revell added he was open to seeing how things developed and that they would consider more staff by the end of 2023.

“Things feel very exciting for me at the moment, with the last six months really picking up, especially with the US opening up, which is a big destination for me,” Revell said.

“It feels great to have a friend and former colleague joining me in the business, bringing more than 16 years’ travel experience. Michael comes with lots of experience in luxury, tailor made and corporate travel which really suits the business and we have an exciting plan for growth in the future.”

Revell said he was relieved to be back on track after the pandemic struck. “My first year was brilliant from 2018-2019 and exceeded my expectations, but then I had to go into survival mode,” he recalled. “Luckily, I didn’t have many overheads for the travel business, but I took on some local project management work part-time with the council when things slowed down. That work ended in February and business has been great since. We’re seeing record sales, with really good margins and people are spending more than they did in 2019.”

A positive source of business is the wedding and honeymoon market, with Revell planning to attend two wedding fairs in the autumn and more next year.

Google advertising  and social marketing are also planned to help boost business, while the agency’s website has also been given a refresh. “If we carry on as we are, we will have a record year. As well as the US, we’re seeing lots of interest in Australia since it reopened and South Africa.”

Revell said now having two of them in the business would allow them to get out more and reconnect with suppliers and attend events. “We’re keen to meet new suppliers and develop our relationships where we can. And of course, to get travelling more when we can too.”