Former Kuoni sales chief opens first high street agency

Travel agency Plan Your World has opened its first store and intends to open additional branches in the future.

The business, founded by former Kuoni head of sales Lorraine Saunders, held a pre-launch event at the premises in Herne Bay, Kent, on Thursday, before welcoming customers on Saturday.

The agency, which became a member of Hays Travel Independence Group in March last year, had previously been trading exclusively as a home-based operation.

Saunders said: “This opening represents far more than a physical space – it reflects how the brand has grown and what we’re building for the future.

“Behind the scenes we’ve invested heavily in the right people, partnerships and technology to create a modern travel company that puts expertise and service back at the heart of the experience.”

The shop will be run by James Underdown, a former colleague of Saunders’, while Debbie Mann has been hired in recognition of her experience across the town’s previous travel agencies.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap between independent, friendly service and large-scale buying power,” said Saunders. 

“So, with the backing of Hays and access to an extensive supplier portfolio, we’re able to offer outstanding value while maintaining the personal touch that today’s travellers increasingly expect.”

She confirmed she plans to further expand the business, describing recruitment as a priority and revealing additional shops are “quite likely” alongside growth of the homeworking division.

“Growth only works with the right people,” she added.

“We want to invest in passionate individuals who care about delivering exceptional travel experiences and raising standards across the industry. The strength of this brand has always been the people behind it – and we’re only just getting started.”