Flight Centre is bringing its Australian high street brand Escape Travel to the UK, creating at least 16 jobs in a call centre and online travel agency.
Due to launch on November 1, Escape Travel will specialise in long-haul beach packages with product sourced by Flight Centre.
The company is looking for 16 experienced agents to work in two teams in a call centre in New Malden, Surrey, one selling the Caribbean and Mexico, the other Asia.
It plans to add a third team, selling the Middle East and Indian Ocean, later this year or early 2011.
Tim Winkworth, brand marketer for Escape Travel, said: “Flight Centre pitches itself as the ‘air fare expert’ so traditional package holiday customers are not necessarily drawn to the brand. Launching Escape Travel is an opportunity for the Flight Centre group to break into the long-haul package market.
“Having bought Gogo Worldwide Vacations in 2008, Flight Centre has a plethora of directly contracted hotels around the world and Escape Travel will use that global buying power.”
Winkworth added he was keen for Escape Travel not to rely on the Flight Centre brand.
He said: “We are scouring the country for knowledgable agents.”