Eleven agents have received £100,000 between them to put towards opening new retail shops in Jet2holidays’ Scale Up Your Street competition.
The initiative was launched by Jet2holidays in March, with the tour operator saying it would support up to 10 travel agent partners. The funding pot was upped to £120,000 with 12 candidates shortlisted after judges were impressed by the quality of entries.
Eight finalists were announced in June, with £80,000 shared between them. An additional three finalists presented their pitches this week, with an extra £20,000 being dished out for new store openings.
The final three to receive funding are the Good Travel Company and Buckley Travel, both in Scotland and Sunlounger Travel, which currently has five shops, in King’s Lynn, Wisbech, Milton Keynes, Gloucester and Huntingdon.
The eight that received funding in an earlier pitch are Best Destination, Beverley Travel, Cotton Travel, Craig Travel, Go Ben LTD, Halstead Travel, Idle Travel and Perfect Getaways.
In addition to the financial support, agents also receive training and marketing support to help them open their shops.
Director of Travel Agent Relationships Alan Cross, one of the panel of judges, said: “Our Scale Up Your Street campaign has been a phenomenal success, and we have been genuinely inspired by the passion, creativity and commitment shown by agency partners and homeworkers.
“As a result of this innovative new campaign, Jet2holidays has invested over £100,000 into independent travel agents and homeworkers to help them open a new retail store, which is a true demonstration of our commitment to them.
“We are incredibly excited about watching our partners succeed and will be supporting them fully as they open their new stores.”
Other judges on the panel were Jet2holidays General Manager Trade Sales, Seaside Travel Owner and Director Nicola Park and Hays Travel Mold Franchise Owner Don Bircham.
