The Travel Designers brand will continue to operate purely as an OTA.

Revealing the plans to TTG, managing director, Nicholas Harding-McKay said the business was already looking at “two other south London locations” for future stores and was aiming to have three premises open by the end of next year.

Harding-McKay added that the decision to shift the company’s business model was designed to cater for two different types of customer.

“With The Dulwich Traveller and our other new stores we’re really focusing on running an excellent, community-facing store that really knows its customers,” he told TTG.

“Our relationship with local customers who come through the door is so important and something we want to grow.

The agency has been trialling an online-only sales model for Travel Designers since April - a move which Harding-McKay said had “paid dividends”.

“Since that trial period we saw bookings going up. We just thought it was a fluke, but it kept happening, so it was clear to us that we wanted to keep this side of the business during the expansion.”

To aid its growth, Harding McKay said Travel Designers would recruit a business development manager to work across both the brands, as well as two full-time staff for The Dulwich Traveller store.

“All plans look good on paper but of course with any business you need to take a gamble, and I think finding the right staff will be the key for us,” he added.