BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Specialist Travel Agency for Complex, Complicated Travel, Tailor Made and Honeymoon Holidays. ATOL BONDED SINCE 1986
Ref. GP224
Location : Bedfordshire
Asking Price : £100,000
This fully regulated business was set up by the Directors, almost 32 years ago and was started as a Partnership and provides a comprehensive travel agency service for customers from the standard package to those with more complex, complicated and tailor made travel plans that usually include multiple destinations and travel modes, within the busy central Bedfordshire region it is located within. The business became a Limited company in 1990 and has gone on to build a sterling reputation in the area during this time and provides advice, booking and research services to the local community and beyond.
A key credential is the business’ License issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under which the business is conducted and operated. The Directors attended and completed all the courses when they started the business and in 1986 obtained and has continued to hold, the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL License.
The business caters for all kinds of holidays, not just regular flights, but holidays and trips with complicated itineraries and also honeymoons and tailor- made package holidays, Tours and Excursions all over the world. These destinations include Safaris in Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania and Kruger National Park in South Africa.
The business also arranges Cruise Holidays, particularly the most famous - Alaska Cruise and Rocky Mountains which covers both the US and Canada. Through its various contacts the business sources all of the hotels through its suppliers and finds the best possible price, as rates can vary from one supplier to another. As part of its activities, travel Insurance is offered and is also profitable.
The agency also offers car hire all over the world, books Theme Park Passes for locations such as Disney in Florida, California, Paris and Hong Kong; and has also booked and arranged a Wedding Group. The agency books all flights, hotels tours, transfers etc. using its own system which is connected directly to airlines, hotels, and other parties. All flights are protected and organised all the under the business’ own license, maintaining and generating maximum profit margin.
The business enjoys very high levels of referrals and repeat business loyal customers. So much so that the business can boast significant and active client base of regulars, many of whom span generations of the same family. The majority of clients are all over the UK but from time to have booked customers from abroad, such as the US, Canada for their holidays to Dubai, India and the Far East andt the business also have Corporate clients, normally travels in Club and First Class.
Expansion Potential
The business has enjoyed steady trading over its lifetime and this is expected to continue in light of its growing and loyal customer base. The agency, while profitable and successful, has been run in more recent times in line with the vendor’s personal wishes and by his own admission the clearest opportunity to grow the business would be by modernising key aspects and taking a more vigorous attitude to contemporary marketing techniques.
The business does very little advertising or social media & internet based marketing and could certainly expand this activity with a more proactive approach. The business is well positioned to take maximum advantage of this growth as it occurs as it has the necessary infrastructure in place.
Market / Competition / Non-Competition Agreements
The business has never felt the need to advertise extensively bearing testimony to the fact that it enjoys exceptionally high levels of repeat business from a large and loyal customer base.
There is however a comprehensive and informative website detailing the services and packages offered.