Pair of agencies join Advantage Travel Partnership as owner friends seek growth

Two independent agencies have joined the Advantage Travel Partnership after the owners decided together to make the move.

Mark Connolly-Dowson, owner of Hello Gorgeous Holidays, and Nicola Woodhatch, owner of Globally Mine, are friends and moved their businesses over to the Advantage Managed Service platform last month from The Holiday Franchise Company, which is part of Hays Travel Independence Group.

The pair met at their first Holiday Franchise Company conference four years ago and since then have been “a sounding board, each other’s biggest cheerleaders and constant source of support”, adding: “The friendship we’ve built extends far beyond the conference room and is a reminder that some of the most valuable connections in travel become lifelong friendships.”

Connolly-Dowson said making the transition “with a good friend made it all the more exciting”, while Woodhatch said the pair had spent a lot of time researching before finding “the perfect fit for both of us”.

Connolly-Dowson worked at Tui for 20 years before setting up Hello Gorgeous Holidays in 2022 in Solihull, West Midlands, after a career break to get married and raise his family.

The full-service agency now employs a team of six and surpassed £1 million in sales in the last two years.

Woodhatch also set up Globally Mine four years ago and bases the luxury family travel specialist in Cranleigh in Surrey.

She has brought on her two daughters to the team as part of a wider homeworking operation.

Connolly-Dowson said: “We reached a point where we needed a higher level of support to keep growing and having spoken to several consortia we were left in no doubt that Advantage was the right fit. 

“We’re looking forward to this new chapter and to building a strong, long-term relationship with Advantage.”

Woodhatch added: “I felt the time was right to move to a partner that would better support Globally Mine’s next stage of growth, and Advantage’s Managed Service model impressed me from the outset with the right balance of support, flexibility and value, with real cost savings as an added bonus.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than helping someone who arrives feeling overwhelmed leave excited and confident about their dream holiday, and I’m thrilled to keep doing that with Advantage behind us.”

Emily Shannon, strategic membership growth and development lead at Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “Mark and Nicky have each built something special, and to welcome them together, as friends and colleagues who chose Advantage side by side, is a real pleasure.”