Former Explorer franchisees Andy Holbrook and Lewis Miller have joined Hays Travel Independence Group as they develop their new venture, called WorldLuxe Travel.
The pair met through networking opportunities at the Explorer homeworking franchise business, which was acquired by Hays Travel in 2021.
Holbrook started his agency, AH Escapes, with Explorer in 2015, and Miller signed up with Explorer in 2019 with his business, Your Great Adventures.
They will both continue with their own agency businesses under WorldLuxe Travel and hope to recruit other franchisees to work under the WorldLuxe Travel banner.
Miller also has plans to set up a retail branch with his Your Great Adventures branding.
Holbrook has a background in retail management and worked with Trailfinders, before taking on a role for almost 14 years at the Foreign Office.
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He said: “I have enjoyed my time with Explorer enormously and learned a lot from the team there.
“I’m looking forward to the future and the opportunity that being part of the Independence Group will bring, as Lewis and I look to grow the WorldLuxe Travel brand.”
Miller’s first job was at Highgate Travel on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS), where late comedian Victoria Wood was a regular customer. He then worked in the financial services sector before returning to travel.
“For a long time I knew I needed to love what I do, and that’s why I came back into travel,” he said.
“To have been part of the Explorer family, with the friends that I have made, the learnings and support they have given me, is something I will never forget or underestimate its value.
“During our time at Explorer, it was clear that Andy and I had a similar ethos.
“Joining the Hays Independence Group was the obvious next step for us both to enhance our respective businesses and for me personally open a retail store locally.”
Harriet Thompson, head of Hays Travel Independence Group, said: “They both have rich travel experience and have created an exciting new brand in WorldLuxe Travel.
“It’s very satisfying to see one of our Explorer franchisee members scale up their business and move to the next level.
“We look forward to working in partnership with them in this next phase, providing the support and advice they need to make a great success of WorldLuxe Travel.”
Hays Travel owner Dame Irene Hays commented: “Stimulating business growth and profitability by working in partnership with our members is at the heart of our Independence Group.
“We have the experience of our whole group to turn to for advice [and] a behind-the-scenes operation to support our members to thrive, coupled with sharing some of the best commercial arrangements in the industry.”
Pictured: Lewis Miller (left) and Andy Holbrook