Kuoni is to open its 23rd standalone store in Gatehead’s intu Metrocentre in August.
The shop will ‘evolve’ the operator’s retail concept with a new aspects and will look ‘quite different’, according to the company, which also has eight outlets in John Lewis stores and six partner stores nationwide which feature Kuoni shop branding.
It will be based on the first floor of the shopping centre’s new Platinum Mall, which was the original ‘mega mall’, and staffed by a team of six.
Helen Roberts, head of direct sales for Kuoni, said: “We will bring fresh thinking to how people plan and buy holidays; this new store will be an evolution from our existing stores, building on our reputation as the travel retailer that does things differently.”
Kuoni said it would continue to work with its nearest partner store, Travel Bureau in Gosforth.
Roberts added: “Newcastle and surrounding areas have been high on our wishlist for some time. We have been working really closely with Gosforth based Travel Bureau which we have had as a Kuoni Partner store for three years, so we know demand for tailormade worldwide travel is high in this area.”
Thomson recently announced it will open its fourth next-generation store at the Metrocentre this summer.