It will open an agency in the Hertfordshire market town of Buntingford on July 21 – its first outlet outside its home base of Suffolk.
The Travel Network Group member currently has shops in Elmswell, Hadleigh and Claydon – the latter of which won a place in this year’s TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies.
Owner Bridget Keevil said the new shop was “completely out of our area” and came about after meeting former colleague Karen Gooding, who will manage the new agency.
“When I opened the first shop in Elmswell 27 years ago, I wasn’t a travel agent – I was an accountant, so I needed to employ somebody who was in travel, and that was Karen,” said Keevil.
Gooding worked with Keevil for several years before moving out of the area and the two lost touch. It was only when Keevil completed the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 2016 they were reunited after Gooding spotted publicity about Keevil’s part in the race.
“When I came into St Katharine Docks, Karen was there and she told me working in the shop was the best job she’d ever had,” said Keevil.
Gooding said she would be interested in working with Keevil again if she ever opened a shop near her Hertfordshire home.
“I thought it was a bit too far, but told her if she brought me a proposal, I would consider it,” said Keevil. “To be honest, I didn’t think it would ever happen. We looked at a couple of other places that weren’t right, but the shop in Buntingford is near on perfect.”
Travel Stop, which will be the only travel agency in the town, is taking over the premises of a former gift shop.
“It’s a beautiful listed building – an old coaching inn. It perfectly fits our style, and the town is full of independent shops – there isn’t a major chain of any description,” said Keevil.
Travel Stop will be fitting out the shop over the next two weeks and plans to employ three staff initially.
“We are still looking for the third member of staff, otherwise I will be travelling there myself every day,” Keevil added.
