Holiday Lounge currently has branches in the Leicestershire towns and villages of Hinckley, Lutterworth, Birstall and Burbage.
The Hinckley premises, which opened in 2004, has recently undergone a £40,000 refurbishment, making room for additional desks and creating a dedicated area for private client discussions. The branch also now has two seating areas for clients wanting to wait for certain staff during busy periods.
But managing director of the Midcounties Co-operative member Paul Moss, has got his sights set on new stores in the Leicestershire town of Blaby, and also the agency’s first store outside of the county – in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Speaking to TTG following our visit to the Hinckley store, which is shortlisted in Top 50 Travel Agencies by TTG awards, Moss said: “At present we are trading very well through peaks, and once it’s over we will concentrate on expansion plans in Blaby and potentially Kenilworth, but this will depend on the teams we can build.
“Having been in the travel Industry for over 35 years, myself and fellow directors of Holiday Lounge have gained knowledge of the local towns and areas clients spend in, and feel that Blaby would definitely fit our portfolio of offices with the clients in that area.
“There are currently no other travel agents in Kenilworth, after a very strong independent in the town closed.”
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Moss said he hoped the new branches will both be open in the first half of this year.
Asked if he envisaged even further expansion for Holiday Lounge after this, Moss said: “I believe that if we get to six offices this would be our maximum, but who knows?
“It's down to the level of service you can offer your clients in each office, so we would need to attract the right staff in each area.”