Two Scottish travel agencies have joined the Hays Travel Independence Group after moving over from its Explorer franchise.
CK Travel Trade, run by Chris Stark-Proctor and business partner Kevin Christie, operated as part of the Explorer franchise for two years, before opening a shop in the town of Fraserburgh on 30 November.
Husband and wife team David and Eilidh McKerry, meanwhile, opened their first We Do Travel branch in Dumbarton in December. David, who is an engineer by trade, and Eilidh, a chartered accountant, went full-time with the business two years ago.
Chris said: “We have made a cracking start and Scotland qualifying for the World Cup has really helped us. At one point we had seven customers in our little shop at the same time. It has always been a dream to have a branch. I wish we had done it from the start. It really has been brilliant.”
David said: “We were over the moon. It was an easy move for us to take our business forward as part of the Hays Travel Independence Group. We are enjoying Peaks, and we want to continue the steady growth we have seen.”
Hays Travel Independence Group Head Harriet Thompson added: “We are delighted to welcome CK Travel Trade and We Do Travel to the Independence Group.
“They have both been extremely successful Explorer franchises and we look forward to working in partnership with them as they take this next big step towards realising their business ambitions.”
The moves come a year after Explorer franchisees Andy Holbrook and Lewis Miller paired up to create a new business, WorldLuxe Travel, and joined Hays Independence Group.
The business then won the Newcomer of the Year award at Hays’ annual overseas conference in Greece in November.
Lewis explained: “It is great to see businesses develop and join the Independence Group. The move has given us a great platform to expand. The next ambition is to grow our homeworking division over the next 12 months.”
The Explorer franchise was acquired by Hays Travel in 2021.
