The Hays Travel branch behind the company’s current national TV advert hopes to use its appearance on the small screen to boost its profile locally and across southwest London.
The shop in Sutton is the backdrop for the agency’s lates market TV ad, which runs on ITV until August.
Eleven agents and staff from Hays Travel – although none from the Sutton branch – feature in the ad, which includes singing in store and in a hotel, and packing a car to go on holiday.
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The 30-second ad features the familiar ‘Nobody offers you more’ jingle and was filmed by creative agency Space City, whose clients include Go.Compare and Cadbury.
The Sutton agency – which was turned into a film set for the day – opened in October 2023 after a two-year gap but had its official opening in May. It was previously based in the town’s Thomas Cook premises.
Manager Mike Fox, who watched the ad being filmed, plans to promote its Sutton location on social media to raise awareness across the region.
He said: “I want to tap into the community as far as places like Twickenham as there are no other Hays shops in southwest London or between here and Harrow in north London.”
Since opening, the shop has taken nearly 600 enquiries and is working from scratch to build a new customer database.
Fox said: “I’ve got permission to put details [of the TV ad] on Facebook.
“The open day, with the mayor and champagne and with music in the background, also took us up a level. There was such a buzz.
“We’ve now got connections with the local community and are establishing ourselves on social media. Customers are coming in and footfall has been generated by maildrops. We’ve had customers say they didn’t know there were still travel agents on the high street.”
The shop has teamed up with a local charity and hidden 10 books in store, which children have to find, in a bid to attract more families. Fox also believes the store has the potential to raise cruise bookings, which currently account for less than 10% of sales.
The store has six staff, including a new-to-travel employee, and plans to take on another consultant and an apprentice this summer.
More: Former chef leads ‘gorgeous’ new Hays Travel branch
Hays Travel moves to larger branch in market town
