Alan Godfrey launched New Era Travel, a Fred Olsen Travel licensee, in Alresford in 2022 and went on to open a second shop in Wickham two years ago. However, he died aged 56 in February and now, nine months later, his agency business has shut.
Paul Hardwick, Fred Olsen Travel’s director of retail, said: “We were deeply saddened to see New Era Travel close their two branches and business. As licence holder of the Abta number New Era used, all monies were paid through Fred Olsen Travel as per our licensee agreements."
He added: "We have already written to all impacted customers and suppliers with affected forward holidays or cruises to advise their holiday and money is still safe and protected and will now be administered and managed by one of the Fred Olsen Travel branches.”
Shortly after New Era opened its second branch, Godfrey told TTG he hoped one day to grow the business to five shops. "I'm not going to lie – having a second store has doubled my workload and responsibility, but I am looking to have five shops," he said in December 2023.
The news comes days after Midcounties Co-operative closed its Your Co-op Travel branch in Kenilworth, a former Carrick Travel shop, following a review.
The shop, which continued to carry Carrick Travel's branding, was one of seven Carrick branches acquired by Midcounties in 2020. It ceased trading on 30 October after Midcounties decided it was "no longer fitted with the long-term strategy of the society".
