Northeast travel agency group Now Lets Travel is to open its sixth store and expand its 40-strong team to more than 50 as it celebrates its tenth anniversary.
The agency, which is part of Barrhead Travel Group’s Brilliant Travel, marked a decade in business with an event in Newcastle in partnership with its retail branding partner Jet2holidays.
The event was attended by staff, suppliers and senior management from Barrhead Travel, with guests hearing the agency’s sixth shop in Stockton-on-Tees would open before 2024.
Three internal promotions were also announced, with retail & marketing manager Danielle Coulter becoming retail director, Newcastle team leader Gail Cooper becoming head of call centre and Cramlington team leader Andrew Devine becoming head of cruise.
Owner and founder Paul Johnstone (pictured, left) said: “Looking back at when I started Now Lets Travel, it’s quite overwhelming to think how far I’ve come. From taking a leap of faith after redundancy from a retail store and setting up a business in my garage, to now confirming my sixth retail location and even thinking about a seventh.
“I have to say that our success over the last few years is down to having such a strong and dedicated team, who are bursting with ideas. Their passion for travel and for looking after our customers has never wavered – even during some of the toughest moments of the pandemic. I’m so proud of our NLT family and I can’t wait to see where 2024 takes us.”
Johnston added: “A huge thank you must also go to our wonderful travel partners as well as our customers who have helped us grow by recommending our services to so many friends and family.”
Linda Pyle, Director of Brilliant Travel, said: “I am absolutely delighted for Paul and his team; he has established a well-respected business that offers exemplary service as well as ensuring development opportunities for his people and exciting employment prospects for local communities across the Northeast.
“Great things lie ahead for Now Lets Travel and we look forward to supporting them as their footprint continues to grow.”
Now Lets Travel has its headquarters and a call centre in Sunderland and was founded in September 2013 as a social media-focused business. It opened its first shop in Jesmond in 2015, with four more shops added to the portfolio during the pandemic.