Barrhead Travel reveals next location for expansion

Barrhead Travel has confirmed that its next phase of expansion will focus on Northern Ireland where it plans to open a new location before the end of 2024.

The travel group revealed at its 2023 Annual Conference in Palma that retail expansion would continue during 2024 in addition to its commitments to existing store refurbishments, investment in new websites, and the launch of further specialist departments including its US division.

Expansion in Northern Ireland will include the opening of a new store this year. It will become the second Barrhead Travel branded store in Northern Ireland following the opening of its Belfast branch in 2017. The group has also met recent growing demand in the region by launching a homeworking division in 2022 with a team of agents working remotely across the country.

In keeping with the group’s pre-Covid expansion strategy, Barrhead Travel says the exact location will be led by its people and are actively recruiting for experienced agents to help identify local opportunities and join the team.

Jacqueline Dobson, President of Barrhead Travel, said: “With 2023 being a record-breaking year, we’re so excited to be expanding in Northern Ireland, a place that’s been a fantastic home for us since 2017.

“We see great opportunities for an agent like Barrhead Travel to grow the high street market here. Northern Irish holidaymakers are very enthusiastic about travel agents and the support we have received from our existing communities over the last seven years has been wonderful.

“What is important for us is firstly identifying the right people for our next location. Our pre-Covid expansion followed this blueprint and has brought us huge success. Ultimately, it’s the local people who know the market better than anyone else, which is why we plan on recruiting first and then working with the team to secure the perfect unit on the right high street.

“We’re looking for people who are extremely passionate about travel and customer service, but who also love working with their local communities.

“There are a few specific locations we have in mind – but we’re open to the right opportunity. As well as investing in bricks and mortar, we’ll continue to invest in our people through our industry-leading training and development programmes.”

Barrhead Travel’s recruitment drive in Northern Ireland will create an initial five full-time positions. The new store will bring the group’s retail footprint to 90 locations throughout the UK.

The article Barrhead Travel reveals next location for expansion first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.