- New store is the company’s 23rd on the high street and its first in Kent -

  Fred. Olsen Travel has officially opened its brand new concept store in Tonbridge, it’s 23^rd high street shop in total, its fifth in the South East and its first in Kent. The new store was officially opened on 15^th January by Jess Gibson, Founder & Managing Director of The TN Card, and Fred. Olsen Travel’s Director of Retail, Paul Hardwick. In addition to selling holidays and cruises from hundreds of different suppliers, the store gives a specialist focus to selected operators, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Fred. Holidays, Easyjet Holidays and Riviera Travel, who are all supporting the brand with in-store branding.   The store, which was designed by Fred. Olsen Travel’s Head of Retail Marketing Sharon Ingle, aims to instantly inspire customers with eye-catching graphics and vibrant photography from its tour operator partners. It also includes a Luxury Cruise Club Lounge towards rear of the store which features a few of Fred. Olsen Travel’s luxury cruise partners, Saga, Cunard, Seabourn, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.   The opening was a day of celebration with the Fred. Olsen Travel team, operator partners, local business owners and customers immersing themselves in the new space.   Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel’s Director of Retail, comments: “We are delighted to have officially opened our Tonbridge store, further expanding our retail footprint and adding to our recently established cluster of shops in the South East.  With offerings from all the market-leading holiday and cruise companies, this new concept store clearly demonstrates that Fred. Olsen Travel Agents has something for everyone – wherever they want to go and whatever they want to do. We look forward to welcoming the people of Tonbridge and the surrounding areas into the store to discuss their holiday and cruise requirements with our friendly and knowledgeable team.”   Fred. Olsen Travel is located at 64 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1EH. Anyone local to Tonbridge is invited to pop into the new store to meet Bettina McCue, Jacqui Nocton and Donna Broughton who, between them, have over 80 years of travel experience and expertise in crafting holidays. Alternatively, call them on 01732 441 879.

Fred. Olsen Travel has opened its newest concept store in Chichester, Sussex It marks the company’s 22nd high street travel agency and fourth in Sussex after Worthing, Eastbourne and Heathfield. The new store was officially opened last week by Chichester's Deputy Mayor and City Councillor Stuart Loxton. It is Fred. Olsen Travel's fifth travel agency concept store, with TUI, Travelsphere & Just You, Azamara, Wendy Wu Tours and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines all supporting the branch with in-store branding. Representatives of these companies also attended the opening. The store is managed by Roger Mallock who has decades of travel experience, having started in the industry in the 1980s and worked for leading brands such as Lunn Poly, Bath Travel, Planet Cruise, Hays Travel and Woods Travel. He also has valuable experience working onboard Fred. Olsen Cruises and also as a tour director for Saga and Shearings. The new shop is in a prime location in the centre of Chichester. Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel's director of retail, said: "We are delighted to further expand our retail footprint in Sussex." Fred. Olsen Travel has been on the high street for 36 years. Full details of all branches can be found at www.fredolsentravelagents.co.uk. 

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A host of major cruise lines have joined forces to support a new Fred. Olsen travel agency concept store in Hampshire. Carnival Corp brands Cunard, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn will together sponsor the new Fred. Olsen Travel store in Ringwood. The store just had its grand opening and is Fred Olsen Travel's first multi-brand concept store to showcase different brands from the same parent company. Each of the cruise brands agreed a three-year deal in return for in-store branding, marketing and dedicated promotions. Each brand will have their logos and dedicated point of sale materials, including brochures, displayed behind different desks in the store. The travel agency store is based in a Grade II listed building on Ringwood High Street, marking the travel agency's third concept store. Tom Mahoney, Director of UK Sales at Cunard, said: "The opening of this new concept store will strengthen our partnership with Fred Olsen Travel. This dedicated high street space brilliantly showcases the exceptional cruise experiences our brand is known for." It is located just a short drive from the UK’s cruise capital in Southampton. Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel's Director of Retail, added: "We are delighted to be opening our newest travel agency concept store, supported by the Carnival brands.” “Cunard were instrumental in bringing this opportunity together, which further strengthens our great partnership with all of the Carnival brands."

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Fred. Olsen Travel has just acquired its 21st retail travel agency. This month it purchased Solent World Travel in Lee-on-Solent, which becomes its 11^th on the South coast. It represents the eighth new or acquired travel agency store since 2021. Previously owned by the Advantage Travel Partnership for the last 11 years, the travel agency has been operating in the same shop in Lee-on-Solent for 34 years, albeit under different names. Current manager, Chris Dewey, who has worked in the store since it opened 34 years ago, had already been planning to retire prior to the acquisition. He will retire at the end of June having spent 44 years in the travel industry. The three remaining staff will continue to work for Solent World Travel as part of Fred. Olsen Travel,. One is being promoted to Manager and a fourth member of staff is being recruited. Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel's Director of Retail, said: "The business is a fantastic fit for us and I cannot wait to continue the legacy that Chris Dewey and his team have built within the community. “ Chris Dewey, Branch Manager of Solent World Travel, added: "It has been an honour to look after the holidays of so many customers." Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO, The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: "Solent World Travel, led by Chris Dewey, has been a highly-regarded part of the Advantage family for more than 15 years.”

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GoCruise & Travel, in partnership with parent brand, Fred. Olsen Travel, recently held their largest ever annual travel conference. It took place at the Latimer De Vere Estate in Chesham with 186 attendees, and was the first conference to combine all areas of the business – retail, franchise, licensee and tour operation. It presented updates on all the latest news across all business segments The two-day travel conference, which had the theme 'Don't Stop Us Now', included key business sessions from trade partners from both the cruise and travel sectors. There was an interactive marketplace providing members with an opportunity for one-to-one meetings with the Fred. Olsen Travel head office team and trade partners. In addition, there were presentations covering the progress of the business as a whole, while various networking opportunities allowed delegates to share ideas. The conference ended with a gala dinner and a performance by a Queen tribute act. Colin Martin-Weekes, GoCruise & Travel's franchise general manager, said: "It was our pleasure to host the biggest event we have put on as a business.” “It was such a great feeling to bring every part of the business together and to collaborate and exchange ideas. We are all looking forward to great things in 2024 for the Fred. Olsen Travel Group."   

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Fred. Olsen Travel Agents officially welcomed its 19^th retail store in Worthing. It was opened by Classic Collection Holidays CEO, Andy Freeth in The Royal Arcade, Worthing.    The new Fred. Olsen Travel Agents branch is the company's second concept store after Eastbourne. In addition to selling holidays and cruises, the store gives a specialist focus to selected operators – Classic Collection Holidays, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Titan – with dedicated artwork and promotions in-store. The store is managed by Kelly Virgo who is assisted by Sam Greenfield with two more staff joining later this month. Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Director of Retail, Paul Hardwick, said: "Worthing is the perfect location as it has a similar demographic to the other towns and cities that we are based in.” “Now that the shop has officially opened, we are ramping up our marketing activity.” It has plans to open further branches in the coming months -including a third concept store. The company is confident that it will hit their target of 25 branches in East Anglia, Dorset, Hampshire and Sussex by the end of 2025. Fred. Olsen Travel has been a fixture on the high street for 35 years.

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Fred. Olsen Travel is rolling out an in-house training academy. It aims to attract agents with no industry experience as well as ease pressure on branch staff to train up new recruits. The Fred. Olsen Travel Academy – in partnership with AS Training – will offer either a one-year, Level 3 travel consultant apprenticeship or a three-month intensive training course tailored to agents requirements. Classroom-based learning will be available at Fred. Olsen Travel's Ipswich headquarters, along with online modules, fam trips and conference and ship visits. The academy, which will be managed by newly-promoted Sharne Algar, aims to train eight to 12 new staff each year. It includes those with no travel or retail experience whatsoever to those simply needing to learn about travel product. The first intake of seven travel agents will join later this month. Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel's Director of Retail, said: "In order for us to continue to grow and increase our high street presence, we need to recruit more talent.” “It will help us attract new travel agents while ensuring shops' profits are not hit by staff dividing their time between training and selling."

Fred. Olsen Travel continues to expand with the acquisition of Ipswich-based travel agency Idelo Travel. It is located just 50 yards away from the company's existing branch on St Nicholas Street. The acquisition of Idelo Travel came about following the retirement of owners Andrea and Antony Powell who approached Fred. Olsen Travel about the possibility of buying them out. Fred. Olsen Travel has acquired the travel agency and its customer database while also protecting customer bookings and jobs. Both of the Idelo Travel staff are excited to start working for Fred. Olsen Travel, which is similar in product and customer base. Fred. Olsen Travel Agents head of commercial, Paul Hardwick, said: "As a Fred. Olsen Travel Agency, Idelo Travel is now part of an independent family-owned company with a high rate of repeat customers.” “Now more than ever, people really do trust and value the service and protection that a specialist travel agent provides." Fred. Olsen Travel has been a presence on the high street for over 35 years with 18 travel agency stores on the south coast and East Anglia.

Fred. Olsen Travel announced an all-time record travel sales start to the year. It saw every department exceed their income budget for the first week of January. It produced record travel sales for a single week. Steve Williams, managing director said:; “Our record week is especially pleasing as throughout the pandemic we took the decision to continue investing in the business.” “It's especially gratifying to see investment paying off."