The former Gold Medal and Travel 2 managing director said his enjoyment of helping to grow travel businesses was “one of the reasons” for making the switch.
Speaking yesterday to trade partners at a brunch event in Glasgow, Freeth revealed he had first been approached to join If Only by founder Brendan Maguire during a lunch meeting in December 2016.
Freeth later came onboard at the trade-only business alongside his fellow ex-dnata colleagues Gordon McCreadie, Tracy Docherty and David Irving this month.
“I like a growth story,” Freeth told agents. “Throughout my career in travel I have been involved in big businesses and smaller businesses. From my Airtours days I joined the On Holiday Group.
“I was there when the business went from nothing to £60 million and Travel 2, when I joined that business 10 years ago, was a £90 million business and we took that up to £260 million.
“So I enjoy the process of growing a business and all the ache and pains you get as a consequences of that and the foundations that are required to enable that growth, so that for me is a really enjoyable part of the job.”
Freeth also explained how his faith “in the future of independent travel agents” and a personal love of Glasgow had also played a part in making the move to If Only.
Touching upon where he believed the company could expand its product, Freeth said: “We can look further into touring, look into the luxury top-end of the cruise market to tag on and create bespoke itineraries so there is lots of scope for the business.
“[If Only] is well loved by the trade and that is seen in the overwhelming love that Gordon and Tracy have received from across the country. The service and knowledge of the team is exemplary.
“If Only is a great brand because of the amount of scope. We really do the East well and the US has only just launched. So there are loads of new destinations which we can explore but we will do it carefully and do it in the right time.
Maguire revealed If Only was currently trading 45% ahead of April 2017 which followed a 43% year-on-year growth for the operator in March.
Freeth added that the job now for him and his team would be to “put a sprinkle of magic dust over an already fantastic foundation” currently at If Only.
