A travel agency based in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, has opened a second branch five miles away in Ossett.
Katie Butler, owner and manager of Total Travel, said she has been hoping to open in Ossett, near Wakefield, because of her success in Heckmondwike.
She set up Total Travel 10 years ago and has had her eye on a particular location in Ossett “for some time”.
Since the Ossett branch opened on September 22, it has taken 61 bookings, which Butler described as “overwhelming especially for the time of year”.
“My biggest fear was recruiting staff as many travel agency staff lost jobs during the pandemic and found work elsewhere but I am delighted that we have a fantastic experienced team in place,” she said.
Her Ossett team includes Alison Goldthorpe who worked in a Tui shop in Ossett for 20 years until it closed and Emma Oldroyd, who had worked at Thomas Cook in the market town.
Rachel Smith has more than 17 years of experience, while Claire Palmer is relatively new to travel but was made redundant in the pandemic.
Butler has worked in travel since leaving school and established her first branch of Total Travel in Heckmondwike, in what had previously been a Co-operative Travel store. The shop was then taken over and soon closed by Thomas Cook.
“I had always dreamed of having my own agency and so, when it was decided the branch would be closed, it was my perfect opportunity to take on the shop as my very own agency,” she said.
Butler said the people of Ossett are “delighted” to see a travel agency back in the town centre and the branch’s Facebook following is already more than 1,000.
She and colleagues have been preparing the branch – a former estate agency – for several weeks, with an “overwhelming” number of passers-by popping in to welcome them and wish them well.
The agency is part of the Midcounties Co-operative.
Main picture, from left: Rachel Smith, Alison Goldthorpe and Emma Oldroyd.