Tailor Made Travel will expand to more than 20 stores over the next year and launch its own “small” tour operation, boss Simon Morgan has revealed to TTG.
Morgan said the group’s ongoing expansion plans would push it firmly into miniple status, while challenging the footprint of fellow South Wales agency chain Travel House.
The group acquired four-agency chain Regal Travel in June, growing the Tailor Made network to 14 stores, with its 15th – Neath – due to open next week.
Tailor Made, said Morgan, closed the year with total sales (inclusive of Regal since June) of £23 million, which he said hopes to grow to £30 million next year.
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Tailor Made Travel will expand to more than 20 stores over the next year and launch its own “small” tour operation, boss Simon Morgan has revealed to TTG.
Morgan said the group’s ongoing expansion plans would push it firmly into miniple status, while challenging the footprint of fellow South Wales agency chain Travel House.
The group acquired four-agency chain Regal Travel in June, growing the Tailor Made network to 14 stores, with its 15th – Neath – due to open next week.
Tailor Made, said Morgan, closed the year with total sales (inclusive of Regal since June) of £23 million, which he said hopes to grow to £30 million next year.
Morgan also revealed the Regal Travel name would, over the coming year, evolve into that of Tailor Made’s forthcoming tour operation, allowing the group to dynamically package tailor-made holidays compliant with the new Package Travel Regulations.
“The new openings aren’t showing signs of slowing down,” said Morgan. “It’s been a phenomenal year. In terms of acquisitions, we’re looking at a few options, small indies, ones and twos - nothing larger than that at this time. When opportunity knocks, you can’t ignore it.”
The group, founded in Penarth, will look to expand along the M4 corridor east to Newport and Cwmbran, and west to Swansea, Llanelli and Carmarthen, while adding Brecon to the north.
“They’re logical locations for us,” said Morgan. “We always open in close proximity [to existing Tailor Made stores] to pool resources and manage rotas. I expect us to end next year with at least 20 stores. I guess that will make us a genuine miniple.”
Morgan said he expects Tailor Made’s total staff to grow from 80 to more than 100 next year.
On its tour operation, Morgan said it would initially start with a few select hotels, airlines and DMCs, primarily packaging city breaks “and a bit of Middle East and Far East”.
“It’s for those times when we need to package dynamically,” he said. “I hope to have it up and running for peaks but I think it will be second quarter – spring – by the time we’re completely ready.”
Morgan confirmed to TTG “selected agents” would be able to book Regal Travel product once the service was live.
Neath will be Tailor Made’s first co-branded store - “a testament”, said Morgan, to the strength of the two brands. All existing Regal stores will be co-branded over the coming year.
“We didn’t want to come in and rock the boat by rebranding Regal out of history,” he said. “That would have been a sure fire way to upset staff and clients.
"We’re making improvements behind the scenes though, moving the stores onto our own proprietary systems, installing new phones, and so on. We’ve tried to make the transition as harmless as possible. It’s all coming along nicely.”
Morgan added Tailor Made would also launch a radio advertising campaign in the new year.
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