Haslemere Travel owners plan to ‘hand over reins’
The owners of long-established independent agency Haslemere Travel are to step back from the day to day running of the company.
Founders Andrew and Di Brownrigg still intend to remain active within the Surrey-based specialist agency.
Gemma Antrobus has joined the management team with a view to “taking over the reins” towards the end of 2008, according to Andrew Brownrigg.
She joins having had experience working for hotels in Kenya and Jamaica as well as restaurants and events companies.
Her marketing and hospitality management background fits in with the Brownrigg’s conviction that travel companies of any size need to find a more imaginative approach to business development, combining traditional service values with innovative and contemporary promotional methods.
Antrobus will bring a fresh pair of eyes to the AITO specialist agency established in 1988, added Browrigg.
As part of a re-branding exercise 18 months ago, the agency removed brochure racks from its shop in order to create a stronger consultancy image.
Belief in the strength of the knowledge of its experienced and well-travelled consultants has helped to build a successful business model, and the appointment of Antrobus is the next stage of the company’s continuing development strategy, according to Brownrigg.
The agency will be considering various “exciting expansion ventures†that will enhance the portfolio of the leisure-based business, he revealed.
Brownrigg added: “Gemma already has a close working relationship with the independent travel industry and we believe that she will be able to offer an objective assessment of our business, opening up fresh opportunities for expansion and for improvement in the company’s performance.â€
Antrobus said: “Having worked for some of the world’s most prestigious venues and hotels, with clients ranging from Royalty to the glitterati, I feel extremely confident that I can introduce a host of innovative and exciting ventures to Haslemere Travel.
“This is a great challenge and opportunity to enhance Haslemere Travel’s existing portfolio, and to expand into other related business areas, providing our current and prospective clients with a more complete all-round service.â€
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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