Tivoli Travel has announced plans to open its third shop in Holmfirth in West Yorkshire in early 2020.
The travel agency, a member of the Global Travel Group, already has stores in Mirfield and Lindley in Yorkshire. Its first shop, in Mirfield, opened in 2017.
Director Jo Richards had hoped to take on the lease of the former Thomas Cook shop in Holmfirth, now owned by Hays Travel under the recent acquisition of all the failed multiple’s 555 shop leases.
She has since found alternative premises in Victoria Street in the town centre in a former carpet shop, which will be refurbished in January before opening slightly later in the new year as Tivoli Travel.
Richards, who has had her sights set on Holmfirth for more than a year, said: “I was in talks with the landlord [of the former Cook store] but then the Hays deal was announced. I wasn’t deterred and this shop came up on the other side of the road near the main shopping area.”
Cook was previously the only agent in the town but Richards, who lives locally, is confident there is enough business for two. She already has clients in the town who currently book through her other stores.
“The competition doesn’t scare me. Holmfirth is a big working area and has a vibrant town centre with lots of footfall. We sell everything and anything. I think we will appeal to people across the board, including families, and I’m sure we will be slightly different to Hays but we’ll see what sells best,” she said.
Richards is now recruiting for two agents to staff the new shop.
More:Tivoli Travel eyes second shop in time for peaks [Nov 18]