Admiral Travel Group opens third Craig Travel branch in Kendal

The Admiral Travel Group has reported bumper bookings since opening its third high street shop under the Craig Travel brand.

 

The Craig Travel brand, which has branches in Workington and Cockermouth, opened in Kendal on December 12.

 

A member of the Hays Travel Independence Group for nearly 25 years, the group also has three Admiral Travel branches, located in Altrincham, Cheadle and Wilmslow, with the latter opening its doors in January 2025.

 

Andy Nelson, director of Admiral Travel, said he has been “gobsmacked” by the number and variety of sales so far in the new agency, which also features an updated branding.

 

“We are already selling lots of holidays, which is eye-opening, given the time of year,” he said.

 

Nelson said the group had seen “an amazing November”, adding: “It blew my mind; business has been beyond anything on a like-for-like basis.”

 

The fifth and final member of staff will join the new Kendal store on January 6, and there will be an official opening event on January 9 with tour operator partners and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

 

The team, under the guidance of experienced manager Jane Kay, is a mix of new-to-travel and established travel agents – and there are plans to develop a social media marketing strategy once the staff are fully trained.

 

“We can look at using an influencer or influencers – or making members of staff into social media influencers and building a following,” said Nelson.

 

He said he and fellow director Craig Weatherill researched several locations in Cumbria before deciding Kendal was the best prospect, with a population of 40,000 in the region and plenty of people who shop locally.

 

“We are surprised how many people are around and there are not too many empty shops…the town centre is starting to rebound,” he said.

 

Jet2holidays has contributed to the cost of setting up the branch, as the agency scooped £10,000 through the operator’s Scale Up Your High Street scheme.

 

“We sell a lot of Jet2holidays – families, cities and Indulgent Escapes – they are so trade friendly,” said Nelson.

 

“They have also helped us with apprentices in Workington and Cockermouth.

 

“We also sell easyJet holidays, Tui, cruises and escorted tours.”

 

Nelson’s parents set up the Admiral Travel business in Tenerife 35 years ago, then he joined 25 years ago – moving from his job in civil engineering.

 

The first Admiral Travel in the UK shop opened in Altrincham in February 2001 and Weatherill joined soon afterwards.

 

The Craig Travel business joined about 21 years ago, when Nelson took it over, keeping the branding and staff as it was well known in Cumbria – and his fellow director also being called Craig is just a coincidence, he explained.

 

More: Admiral Travel to open third Craig Travel branch

 

Admiral Travel opens fifth shop and plans further growth