Barrhead Travel has revealed plans to focus on expansion in Northern Ireland this year with a second branch – once it has recruited staff to help it find the best location.
The travel agency chain said the decision on the exact location will be led by its employees as it launches a recruitment drive for experienced agents to identify local opportunities.
President Jacqueline Dobson said the agency had “a few specific locations in mind” as it recruits for an initial five full-time positions for the new store, which will bring the group’s portfolio to 90 locations across the UK.
She said: “What is important for us is firstly identifying the right people for our next location.
“Our pre-Covid expansion followed this blueprint and has brought us huge success. Ultimately, it’s the local people who know the market better than anyone else, which is why we plan on recruiting first and then working with the team to secure the perfect unit on the right high street.
“We’re looking for people who are extremely passionate about travel and customer service, but who also love working with their local communities. We’re open to the right opportunity.”
It will be the second Barrhead Travel branded store in Northern Ireland since the group opened a branch in Belfast in 2017. The company has already responded to growing demand in the region by launching a homeworking division in 2022 and has a team of agents working remotely.
Dobson added: “With 2023 being a record-breaking year, we’re so excited to be expanding in Northern Ireland, a place that’s been a fantastic home for us since 2017.
“We see great opportunities for an agent like Barrhead Travel to grow the high street market here. Northern Irish holidaymakers are very enthusiastic about travel agents and the support we have received from our existing communities over the last seven years has been wonderful.”
The expansion plans follow last year’s conference in Majorca, when it announced it planned to grow its retail chain further this year as well as continue to invest in store refurbishments, websites and specialist departments such as its new US division.