| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 30/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 33 |
| Copyright: Other |
Mike Gooley, chairman, Trailfinders
AFTER spending 12 years in the army – some of the those in the elite SAS – taking risks was never going to be a problem for Mike Gooley.
On leaving the forces, his original intention was to use his skills to set up an overland tour company to Africa and Asia.
Gooley quickly realised the market was flooded, and saw none of the existing operators had anyone to represent them as travel agents.
Along with three former army friends, Gooley put together £1,000 and started Trailfinders.
The first shop was opened in Earl’s Court Road in 1970, specialising in backpacking tours and flights to Kathmandu and Delhi.
Gooley’s philosophy for the past 30 years has been to offer the highest level of customer service. This can only be achieved with the right people – the vast majority of staff are well travelled graduates and Trailfinders pays above the industry norm to get them.
Trailfinders, now the UK’s largest independent travel company, has an annual turnover of over £400 million and employs 900 people worldwide.