Seaside Travel confirms May opening date for 13th branch

Seaside Travel has revealed its 13th shop will open on May 2 after recruiting four staff to work at the new branch.

The travel agency chain had already announced it would be expanding into Low Fell, a suburb of Gateshead, but it has now confirmed the opening date.

The store, in a former card and decorations shop, will be opened by local dignitaries while key suppliers have also been invited. There will be prize giveaways on the day and flowers and champagne for the first customers to book in the branch.

Head of business and commercial Paula Gleeson said: “We have the local mayor coming; we try to do this for all shop openings. We think it’s important as it shows commitment to the local area.

“We always have prizes, normally sponsored by tour operators, and give extra loyalty stamps, free fast passes and extra discounts as well as flowers and champagne for the first booking customers.”

The shop will be staffed by four full-time employees, three of which have retail travel experience and one of which comes from a non-travel background. The branch falls under the regional manager for the west, Rebecca Rutter, and will be the seventh Seaside store in the region.

Gleeson said the shop had been the “easiest so far” in terms of sourcing new staff members.

“We have been blown away [by the response]. We could have opened two shops in the town and filled them with experienced staff,” she said.

She said the company’s decision to create a senior management team had helped the recruitment and expansion process.

“We have more time to focus and work with our new staff. We have a full-time trainer, Kate Dixon, and also Katelyn Cook, our senior social media specialist, who are on hand to help and train staff.

“We do like to make our staff ‘Seasiders’; we want them to be down to earth and super-friendly so customers can relate to them and turn our customers into repeat ‘Seasiders’.”

Photo: Seaside Travel owner Nicola Park