Former boss of MyTravel’s The Cruise Store Gary Wardrope has set up a cruise travel agency within Hays Travel Independence Group.
The Get Cruising travel agency in the Pantiles area of Tunbridge Wells aims to offer a personalised service to cruise holidaymakers. The agency has ditched racks of traditional tour operator brochures in favour of large plasma screens, sofas, an instore bar, coffee area and individual holiday printouts.
Wardrope said: “In my experience, people will research cruises on the Internet but will then want some personal advice before making the booking.”
Wardrope said joining Hays Travel Independence Group had helped the agency get on its feet by being able to outsource back office functions, use the group’s bonding, and computer and telephone networks as well as providing access to existing commercial deals with suppliers.