Travelling Ahead

The consumer travel sector has had a complete overhaul over the past two decades, with many retail shops fading on the high street but Glasgowheadquartered Barrhead Travel, which has one unit here, is bucking the trend with 20 new stores set to open in the first quarter of 2020 alone UK-wide. Here, Kelly Hutchinson, Branch Manager of the firm’s NI shop talks to Emma Deighan.

When Thomas Cook folded last September there was a collective gasp across the UK. There was a common sentiment that if a travel firm as renowned and powerful as Thomas Cook could succumb to changing consumer trends, what hope was there for the rest? But the complex demise of the 178 year old company included deeper woes that stemmed back more than ten years. The impact of its failure has, if anything, drawn many consumers back to the high street, says Kelly Hutchinson.

“The effect the collapse of Thomas Cook had on our customers was devastating, however having their local high street branch on hand to resolve, re-book or refund their holiday restored our customer’s faith in travel agent service. People are now wanting to come in and speak face-to-face with an experienced agent rather than go online because if something goes wrong there is always someone on the ground to help,” she begins.

Barrhead Travel was one of many independents to pick up custom from the Thomas Cook fallout because of its unique position in the market, offering all travel with all brands.

It began as a single shop in a local suburb of Glasgow 45 years ago. Now Barrhead Travel has over 90 retail outlets across the UK with over 1000 people in its network. That figure continues to grow due to the company’s hearty expansion plans. Last year it opened six new stores and this year it plans on opening up to 100 new stores across the UK.

“We are ABTA and ATOL bonded and fully licensed which means if something happens to a traveller’s package, they’re covered. We’ve a team of specialists who are on hand 24/7 to look after any crisis situations and anything you do book with us will always be protected,” says Kelly.

“Another one of our USPs is that we won’t be beaten on price, this is something we are proud of and like to shout about.”

She describes the performance at the Belfast store as “brilliant” and “at its busiest”.

“Despite only opening our doors in 2017, we have experienced year on year growth averaging at around 30% and we’ve been doing a lot of marketing to continue that momentum. That includes a lot of TV and other media, exclusive events and more and people are really starting to understand that we’re a secure brand.”

Barrhead Travel’s Belfast store opened in 2017 in Victoria Square. It is run by a team of highly experienced travel specialists who

“More and more people are travelling and it’s not necessarily seen as a luxury item anymore, it’s a necessity. A lot of people are buying holidays as gifts instead of a material object. It’s like buying a memory and people are seeing the value in that”

have the closest links with tour operators, airlines and other travel suppliers.

“There’s nothing we don’t do and we’re not tied to any airlines, so we really can offer whatever the traveller wants,” adds Kelly, who has been in the industry for 25 years.

She says travellers in Northern Ireland are increasingly seeking more unique destinations, straying away from the traditional “bucket and spade” holiday.

“People want a more authentic experience on a less-travelled path and it’s those complex itineraries that are best placed in the hands of an experienced agent.

“There’s also an increase in solo travel. Many people find this type of travel daunting which is where we come in with safe and friendly tour options.”

She says among the rising stars in the top destinations for travellers from NI are the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Singapore, Poland and Iceland, with many favouring a long-haul break to Canada.

“More and more people are travelling and it’s not necessarily seen as a luxury item anymore, it’s a necessity. A lot of people are buying holidays as gifts instead of a material object. It’s like buying a memory and people are seeing the value in that,” Kelly continues.

“They may have two to three holidays a year, two shorter breaks and one long-haul. We are seeing a lot of interest in the western side of Canada too. People often think it’s out of their price range and then they realise

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it’s within reach.”

Helping make holidays more accessible to employees is Barrhead Travel’s Affinity scheme which allows participants to receive up to 10% off their holiday. It’s a service that Kelly is keen to promote to businesses around Northern Ireland who can offer the scheme as a staff perk.

“We’ve lots of companies signed up,” she adds. “The NHS is also part of it and it’s an area we want to grow.”

Looking to the future of the firm, Kelly says Barrhead Travel’s ability to adapt to consumer trends and new technology along with industry-leading service, will allow the agency to rise on top.

“I think that’s the key to success. Moving with the times and keeping an open mind to new trends is what safeguards business,” says Kelly.

The environmental impacts of travel and tourism is one of Barrhead’s more recent focal points. It is affiliated with booking firm Travelife, a system that directs customers to hotels and accommodations that are certified as taking active steps to take care of the environment.

Closer to home it removed the use of plastic cups from its branches and offices.

“There’s nothing we don’t do,” she adds. “Trends are changing all the time and we are too. Our dedication to innovation, highly skilled and passionate people, and everexpanding and diverse product offering is what makes us unique.”

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DavisonLamont

DavisonLamont

We’ve got you covered.

They’re the faces and voices behind the business headlines on BBC Northern Ireland. Here journalists Clodagh Rice and Richard Morgan talk to Emma Deighan about making and breaking stories and their relationship with the NI business community.

The Headline Acts

BBC Economics and Business Editor John Campbell pictured with business correspondents Clodagh Rice, Richard Morgan and newest member of the team, Leanna Byrne.

Richard Morgan is the new host of Inside Business, the BBC Radio Ulster panel show formerly hosted by the much-respected Wendy Austin.

It’s a role he took up a month ago with the knowledge that he had “big shoes to fill” but it’s also a role that he relishes because it allows him to elaborate on the stories that are making the headlines throughout the week and the topics that are occupying conversations in the boardroom.

“It’s very daunting,” he begins. “Yes, I’ve big shoes to fill so I won’t be making any drastic changes to begin with. I want to get a feel for the role.”

From Apprenticeship Week, to gender imbalance in the technology sector, to the impact the Coronavirus is having on NI tourism, there were few current talking points that had not been discussed in the four episodes Richard had hosted prior to our interview.

“It’s a great programme that allows for discussions to breathe because when you look at it, our news reports perhaps only allow for three or four minutes of discussion but this opens it up and it allows us to do interviews with some key players and I’m liking the fact that we have that panel element,” adds Richard, who is keen to involve the entire business team including Business Correspondent Clodagh Rice, Economics and Business Editor John Campbell and the newest member of the business team, Leanna Byrne.

Sitting in the Clayton Hotel, across from BBC NI’s HQ, Clodagh and Richard tell Ambition Magazine that it was always their very own ambition to become journalists.

Clodagh took an alternative route to get into the business newsroom at the Beeb, opting for a degree in Business and French at Trinity College in Dublin.

“I really enjoyed the business because it’s always something I was interested in but I wanted to become a journalist and I knew I could apply that to the role. I then studied journalism at Ulster University in Coleraine after which I freelanced for a while at Citybeat, the Belfast Telegraph and then I began doing general news at the BBC when the opportunity for a business journalist came up,” she explains.

Richard went to Edinburgh to study journalism at Napier University but still had a keen interest in business having studied it at A-Level.

You could say his parents were something of an inspiration to him. His late father was a broadcast journalist while his late mother, in Richard Morgan.

“I am checking Twitter at an embarrassingly early bedtime and as soon as I’m up, and I don’t think you ever get used to that buzz of breaking a story. It always keeps you alert and on your game.”

her older years, ran her own aromatherapy and reflexology business.

“I can still remember doing a piece on that business for my coursework and to this day the teacher can recall it,” he says.

Before taking up a general news post at the BBC, which led him into the role he now occupies, Richard worked at Dankse Bank, the Irish News and then Cool FM.

“Business works its way into all elements of the news,” he continues. “No matter what the business story there is always an element that is of general interest to the public and that was the case at Cool FM where I was always out and about talking about job announcements and more.”

Shaping economical stories to appeal to the everyday listener, “from the mummies getting the kids in the car in the morning” to the “person going to work” is always at the forefront of Clodagh and Richard’s thoughts when writing. It’s no easy feat.

Discussing what they deem as their biggest, most engaging stories to date, Richard continues: “I think Wrightbus going into administration has to be one of them. We got word the night before and I spent the week driving up to Ballymena at 5am to broadcast outside the factory. It was the significance of the story that stands out. Watching those workers wheel out their belongings and sticking a microphone in their face and getting that receptive interview was humbling. It made me feel very privileged to hear their stories.”

“And it’s those kind of stories that we want,” says Clodagh. “Because that’s what interests the listeners. Most people are employed and can relate to a piece like that and there have been so many similar stories.

“I did a recap of the business news for 2019 and there were many similar pieces, like Bombardier, the shipyard and those are the real engaging stories.”

Hearty relationships with the business community has given BBC NI an edge when it comes to breaking the big headlines. Richard describes the team’s links with businesses as a “two-way” street.

“It helps to have those connections for times when we need guidance or clarification and that can be as simple as a text message,” he says.

“I also think thing that over the last 18 months specifically, businesses have really found their voices. They’re saying this is what we want and here are our challenges and I think that has spurred on the smaller businesses to come on and illustrate stories with us. I have just found that more and more people are willing to meet you and discuss the challenges they face and it never ceases to amaze me how many people in Northern Ireland are actually in business,” adds Richard.

“It’s like we don’t seem to have run out of ideas in terms of new business ideas and you only have to look at Ormeau Baths and the entrepreneurs working out of there to see that.”

Breaking down a day in the life of a BBC NI business journalist, Clodagh and Richard talk of early morning and late night Twitter checks and a constant connection with the business world to ensure reports, no matter what the time of day, are as detailed as possible.

“You might be the first person to cover a breaking story and you need to know what you’re reporting is correct and that comes back to those links you have with the business community,” says Clodagh.

Richard adds: “I am checking Twitter at an embarrassingly early bedtime and as soon as I’m up, and I don’t think you ever get used to that buzz of breaking a story. It always keeps you alert and on your game.”

Clodagh continues: “When the markets open at 7am that’s the time for potential announcements and you may have only opened your eyes but it’s not rocket science, it’s about being concise and clear and meeting deadlines.”

Looking to the future, both Richard and Clodagh have a fair idea of the fundamental stories set to make their way onto the news list.

Brexit, the business world’s reaction to CO2 emission reductions and skills shortages as well as a touch of good news, they hope, will be the underlying topics.

“I think that’s a big business opportunity, and it’s coming up a lot,” says Clodagh about the Government’s net zero targets for 2050. “Everyone from small to medium and large companies are playing a part and I remember the story breaking when Huhtamaki got the MacDonald’s straw contract, that was worth millions of pounds.

“It will be interesting to see how Brexit will Clodagh Rice.

“You might be the first person to cover a breaking story and you need to know what you’re reporting is correct and that comes back to those links you have with the business community.”

play out too. An economist said to me recently that it’s like NI is always waiting for something to happen, whether that’s Article 50 being triggered or Stormont up and running, so it will be interesting to see if there will be an immediate pick up in confidence.”

Richard adds: “Uncertainty is a word we’ve been hearing for around three years. We spend many a morning and evening interviewing businesses and we’re talking about this time and time again. Uncertainty hangs over firms of all sizes but there is also a lot happening here and there are lots of opportunities to thrive.”

“If you look at the economy, it’s barely growing and some would argue that we’re in a recession but what has impressed me most is how businesses adapt and what I will say about Brexit is it has made people more efficient in a way they wouldn’t have if there wasn’t a backdrop of political uncertainty,” concludes Clodagh.