Tributes have been paid to an agent described as one of ‘travel’s greats’ and a pioneer in retail travel in the 1960s.
Ronald Plant, known as Ron, the founder of Plantravel, died on July 21, aged 83.
In 1961, Plant established his travel agency business, Victor Plant Travel Centre, rebranding it to Plantravel in 1964. He had already set up a counter in a small room at the the back of his father’s newsagency business in Sidcup, Kent, in 1959, selling coach, theatre and rail tickets and also package tours, of which 200 were sold in the first year.
The agency grew to become a successful miniple with nine branches in seven towns in southeast London and north Kent. Its flagship branch was in Bromley and it had a business travel office in Sidcup, as well as a US and Canada business called America Unlimited, developed in the 1970s.
The chain was eventually bought by Lunn Poly, now Tui, in 1983. It was the 30th largest travel agency by turnover out of 2,000 operating in the UK at that time.
Former staff remembered Plant as ‘ahead of his time’, taking advantage of early pre-internet technology, coming up with innovative ways to drive new business, and recognising the true value of investment in training. As well as putting staff on courses and employing and training many school leavers, he arranged for employees to meet tour operators to develop strong personal relationships.
Plant, who joined Abta in 1962 and was elected to a council to review its structure and constitution, also set up a special division at Plantravel to assist disabled clients who wanted to travel.
Former Plantravel branch manager Mike Hall, who went on to become marketing director at Cruise & Maritime Voyages, said Plant gave him “the best possible start in my career” when he joined in 1975.
He said: “Straight away he placed me on a college day release scheme once a week for a year. We also had a lot of inhouse training; Ron was very passionate about it.
“He built an amazing company that placed his staff at the centre. Ron’s enthusiasm for the travel industry and professional business ethos was infectious.”
Ron Plant (pictured far right) in 1979 on a fam trip to Washington DC with Plantravel directors and managers.
Hall called Plant a “true pioneer in the retail travel industry”, adding: “He was right at the cutting edge of what was going on in travel and was one of the greats at the time of Harry Weeks, Mike Prior, Freddie Laker and Harry Goodman. He was hand in glove with these people. I remember being slightly in awe of him!
“When he sold the business he could see the way the industry was going; he could see the march of the multiples of the 1980s.”
While the travel agency had started out selling coach tickets for holidaymakers heading for the coast, it later capitalised on rising demand for overseas package holidays.
Chris Thompson, ex-Plantravel director and company secretary, said Plant would be remembered with “much affection” by those who knew him.
She said: “Plantravel was a very happy, fun company to work for. Ron was a kind, generous, knowledgeable boss, who delighted in the development and success of his staff. He was ahead of his time with training for the travel industry in both his involvement with college courses and inhouse training programmes.”
Diane Comeadow, another former Plantravel manager, credited Plant with creating a professional independent family business that was “the envy of others through the best training and inspiring his staff to reach their full potential”.
She added: “We didn’t earn commission; it was all about providing the best service. Customers queued to be served. They were the very best years of my long travel career.”
Similarly, another former branch manager Peri Marshall said Plant “gave so many of us the foundation to flourish in the travel industry”.
Paying tribute, she added: “They were such happy days that have given us lasting memories and friendships for life. Thank you.”
Plant leaves behind wife Juliet, a son and a daughter, and three grandchildren.