Announcing his departure on Twitter on Tuesday evening (6 September), Shapps said his time in the role had been “a privilege”. 

Replying to his tweet, Tricia Conroy-Smith, director of Off Broadway Travel, told Shapps: “After all of this you’ll need a holiday! You know Off Broadway Travel make excellent coffee. Pop down and book some sunshine.”

The message was the latest in a long-running dialogue between the team at the Welwyn-based agency and their local MP during the pandemic.

Shapps visited the agency for a long-awaited meeting in July 2021 after he appeared to call travel agents a thing of the past at a government press briefing last May – sparking anger among the travel trade.

He spent around an hour at Off Broadway with Conroy-Smith and her partners Paul Rice and Natalie Bennett.

Shapps’ tenure as transport secretary was widely derided by the industry on social media following the announcement he was to step down.

Reacting to Shapps’ tweet, former SPAA president Ken McLeod replied: “You were utterly useless as transport secretary, specifically on behalf of the travel industry.” 

Henbury Travel owner Richard Slater offered similar feedback, telling Shapps: “Thank goodness for that, the travel industry will draw the biggest sigh of relief.”

Chris Marks, co-managing director of Baldwins Travel, said: “I’m afraid your tenure was not a success in any way, shape or form,” while Hays Travel North West boss Don Bircham added: “I never thought I would be applauding a decision by Liz Truss.”

“A nightmare transport sec for the travel industry during the pandemic. Cheerio,” said MSC Cruises’ regional sales manager Neal Hussey.