Agency bosses thank Jet2holidays for funding towards shop openings

Agency bosses have thanked Jet2holidays after the UK’s biggest tour operator awarded almost £80,000 to support travel retail expansion – with a potential £40,000 more yet to be distributed.

The operator’s inaugural ‘Scale Up Your Street’ competition attracted 118 entries, with 12 businesses shortlisted to receive up to £10,000 to fund marketing costs linked to the opening of an additional shop.

Alan Cross, director of travel agent relationships at Jet2holidays, said the competition was organised in recognition of the “power of retail”, adding: “The high street is anything but dead – the high street is vibrant if you get the right shop in the right location.”

More: Jet2holidays awards thousands to agencies opening new shops

Idle Travel owner Tony Mann was among those who succeeded in the Dragons’ Den-style event held in Leeds last week after outlining his ambitions to open a second shop after 41 years in business. The agency was granted £10,000.

“It’s an opportunity for me to leave a different legacy and one we can’t turn down,” said Mann. 

He added:  “We’ve never had a second shop. We’ve had opportunities to expand, but it felt like the right time [to do it] with my daughter Jodie and it’s important to my family.

“My grandson is also an apprentice but we’ve also got a fantastically strong team and it’s a new challenge for me.”

Mann revealed he had earmarked “a couple” of locations for the new store, adding: “We want to open as quickly as possible.”

Another winner was Perfect Getaways, whose owners Dave and Nicola Palmer are set to use their windfall to open their 11th shop.

They said they were planning to open the additional store in Merseyside in the near future, but did not want to reveal the location until closer to the opening date.

“We’re continually looking to expand,” said Dave, adding: “Twenty [shops] is the target, but we’re aiming to get to 15 in the next two or three years.”

Other competition winners included Admiral Travel, Best Destinations, Beverley Travel and Go Ben Travel. Further agency winners are expected to be selected.

Admiral director Craig Weatherill said: “Without Jet2holidays, we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in now.”

The judging panel was composed of Cross and colleague Lloyd Cross, as well as Seaside Travel owner Nicola Park and Just Go Travel founder Don Bircham.

Jet2holidays said the competition could become an annual event.