Agent and operator Alan Hubbard might be 80 in November, but retirement is the last thing on his mind. He is determined to show he’s still at the top of his game.
“It was a challenge to see if I could still make a name for myself and get on the front of Travel Weekly,” laughs cover star Alan, who worked his way up from selling theatre tickets on Great Yarmouth sea front in the early 1960s to running a chain of five agencies and a tour operation.
Alan realised the potential to run his own business early on. “I sublet a shop and set up Betta Travel in 1964. It was still tough as no one went away in winter so I worked at the agency in the day and managed a bingo hall at night,” recalls Alan, who by 1980 had five branches in East Anglia trading under the names Betta Travel and Can-Am Travel.
Alan soon showed he was made of stronger stuff than many, winning a six-year battle with administrators of Freddie Laker’s failed airline empire. They took Alan to court to recoup his clients’ monies for bookings, which he returned to customers when the company failed as they had not yet been passed over to the airline.
But it was a fam trip on the first charter to Florida with another industry entrepreneur, Harry Goodman, that encouraged Alan to launch a tour operation to Canada out of Norwich airport, All Canada Travel & Holidays.
In 2000 Alan sold the business to Hoseasons, and became a director. But the move was short-lived. “They wouldn’t let me carry on running it and it lost money,” explains Alan, who soon left to become his own boss again.
Undeterred, he set up another, smaller operator called Canada4u, alongside his one remaining shop Betta Travel in Lowestoft.
With four other agencies within 200 yards, competition remains fierce. “Travel is a rat race with all the discounting. Customers come to us for tailor-made trips to Australia and the US. The footfall is slight, but spend is heavier and that’s what keeps us going.”
Alan still works most days, and has no intention of hanging up his hat yet. “I am completely hands-on and thoroughly enjoy it.”
Alan on the cover of the September 1 issue of Travel Weekly
Alan’s tips
- Keep control of your expenses; if your outlay is going to be less than your return, don’t do it. We have remained successful by keeping our expenses down. Everything we do we think about what the return will be.
- Give clients service that is above and beyond their expectations. We contact clients before and after travel and always write them a welcome home letter.
- Don’t follow what your competitors do because you don’t know if what they do is successful. They might have placed a cruise advertisement and not got a good response. Do what’s best for your business.
Alan’s CV
- 1960-1964: Sold theatre tickets in Great Yarmouth; accommodation for the stars and coach holidays
- 1964-1999: Set up Betta Travel
- 1980-1999: Started All Canada Travel & Holidays. Sold in 2000
- 2000-present: Owner of Betta Travel and Canada4u
About our sponsor
Insight Vacations, Trafalgar and Contiki provide quality worldwide escorted touring holidays for clients of any age. Family-owned and fully bonded, One Stop Touring Shop offers 500 itineraries worldwide and some of the best commissions available.
To contact the team, call 020 7468 4335. To order brochures, visit trade-gate.co.uk