Greig Avinou reflects on ‘hard decision’ to sell stake in award-winning agency

Greig Avinou has said the travel industry will always hold a place in his heart after making one of the “hardest decisions” of his life by selling his shares in Barrhead Travel’s franchised Falkirk branch.

 

Avinou, 43, opened the shop in 2009 with five agents, before quadrupling the staff count and picking up awards including the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association’s agency of the year in 2025 and Jet2holidays’ top UK agency in the same year.

 

“I always said to myself I’d go out at the top and I made the decision in the last six months [to sell up],” Avinou said.

 

The sale was completed at the start of this month, with the Falkirk staff remaining in place and now being led by head of sales Kieran McVeigh.

 

“Everybody says they’ve got the best staff, but I certainly had the best,” said Avinou. “They’re extremely loyal and hardworking and they gave blood for me on a daily basis.”

 

Avinou entered the industry as a 16-year-old as a trainee at King World Travel in Falkirk, rising to manager before leaving to open Barrhead Travel’s first franchise store with Tina King in Saltcoats, Ayrshire.

 

Five years later, he sold King his half of the business and opened Barrhead Travel’s franchise operation in Falkirk. The number of agencies in the town was in the double digits at the time, Avinou said.

 

The branch spent four years on Manor Street until it outgrew the space, leading to a move to the high street.

 

“Within a year of moving, our turnover grew by 74%,” said Avinou, recalling a “booming” high street.

 

The agency’s VIP lounges were a key part of the branch’s aim of making customers feel special.

 

“We really looked after clients, giving them a six-star service,” said Avinou. “We really did go the extra mile and it led to clients sometimes booking three or four times a year.”

 

About two-thirds of sales were beach holidays and city breaks, with the rest mainly being cruise and luxury trips.

 

Outlining his decision to leave the business, Avinou said: “I want to spend more time with my family – my mum and dad are 81 and 82, so I want to make memories with them.

 

“I also want to look after my health a bit better. A lot of things came second because of how busy the business was, so I want to pause and press the reset button.”

 

He added: “I honestly don’t know what the future holds. Going from 110mph to nothing in the last 10 days has not been easy, so I need to try to adjust. I’ll wait and see how I feel and where the next challenge lies ahead.”

 

Reflecting on his career, he said: “I love travel. It’s my passion and I’ve had the time of my life. 

 

“I’ve met so many great people from all over the UK. It’s an incredible industry and I’ve been lucky to be part of it – it will always hold a place in my heart.

 

“[Selling up] has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make.”

 

Other prizes the Falkirk business won in recent years include the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association’s small leisure agency of the year award in 2024 and Jet2holidays’ top agency in Scotland in 2024 and 2025.