The industry has paid tribute to Barrhead Travel founder Bill Munro, describing him as a visionary who left an enduring legacy and changed the landscape for high street travel agencies.
Munro died peacefully at home on October 26, aged 80, after falling ill during the summer.
He opened the first Barrhead Travel shop in 1975 before expanding the business to create the biggest independent travel agency in Scotland and one of the most renowned travel retailers in the UK.
Barrhead Travel president Jacqueline Dobson led the tributes, saying: “It’s been almost 50 years since Bill Munro founded Barrhead Travel. His bold vision fundamentally changed the landscape for high street travel agencies across the country.”
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Bill was an inspiring presence in the travel industry, to all who knew him and to the many who learnt from him. He will be much missed, but his legacy will endure.”
His bold vision fundamentally changed the landscape for high street travel agencies across the country
Dame Irene Hays, owner of Hays Travel, credited Munro as “one of the most innovative businessmen” and an early adopter of technologies who “left his competitors behind”.
She added: “To me personally, he was one of the kindest, most supportive people, especially after John [Hays] died.”
The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association cited Munro’s “invaluable and transformational impact” on the industry, adding: “His legacy is evident in the Scottish travel sector today.”
John McEwan, former chief executive of The Advantage Travel Partnership, attributed Barrhead’s success to Munro’s entrepreneurial spirit. He said: “We always had lively discussions as Bill was passionate about his business and forthright in defending his position. We developed a mutual respect. Bill’s legacy will live on as the history of travel is written.”
Trevor Davis, founder of consultancy 3For and a former Co-operative Travel and Thomas Cook director, described Munro as a “visionary”, adding: “Sadly our industry has lost another true character.”
Munro leaves wife Susan, daughters Sharon and Wendy, and grandchildren Ross and Hannah.
Pictured: Bill and Sharon Munro
Sharon Munro, former Barrhead Travel chief executive, thanked the industry for all the tributes.
“It has given us great comfort,” she said. “Barrhead Travel formed a great part of family life for Wendy and me, from delivering leaflets when we were kids to enjoying the infamous staff parties when we were old enough.”
Describing her father as “fearless” in business, she added: “I’ll never forget how he taught me – and many others – to aim high and never let anything stand in the way of reaching our potential.”
He was one of the kindest, most supportive people, especially after John [Hays] died
Munro, who worked as a banker before moving into travel, opened his first shop after spotting a gap in the market for agencies that opened in the evenings and at weekends.
Barrhead Travel expanded during the 1980s and 1990s, opening branches in almost every major Scottish town and city as UK travel abroad boomed.
A management buyout in 2007 saw Munro pass day-to-day running of the business to daughter Sharon.
With 20 shops in 2010, annual turnover topped £100 million and Munro received a lifetime achievement award at the Agent Achievement Awards as Barrhead Travel won the Best Large Agency in Scotland award for a 10th consecutive year.
In 2018, Barrhead Travel was sold to US-based travel conglomerate Travel Leaders Group for £36 million. By then it was one of the largest agencies in the UK, with more than 70 shops and 1,000 staff. Munro took an advisory role after the sale, but the relationship soured and ended in an employment tribunal in 2020, which found he was unfairly dismissed.