Happy 60th Anniversary Border Travel!
- 23 Apr 2024
- Millie Nunn
One of our long-standing members Border Travel has hit a big milestone, recently celebrating 60 years in business, and we want to wish them a Happy 60th Anniversary! Since 1964, Border Travel has whisked its customers away to unforgettable destinations worldwide. We recently sat down with Gary Jardine, Retail Manager at Border Travel, to discuss its greatest achievements and how it has remained successful after 60 years.
Can you remember where the first booking was made to?
In 1964, before my time, probably to Lloret de Mar.
What are the biggest changes you have seen over the past six decades?
The rise of the internet. Pre-internet, we relied on customers advance registering for holidays and utilising brochures. There is a lot more choice now and the availability of travel is the strongest it has been. As a business, we have embraced the challenge and always remained competitive and relevant to our customers.
Can you tell us a few standout memories from the past 60 years?
We are 40 years in our current location, with lots of our original staff still with us. It is great to see them share their knowledge with our newer, younger members of staff. We are also very proud of the awards we have won over the years, including SPAA Agency of the Year in 2012, Jet2 Awards, Dumfries & Galloway 2017 Award for Local Businesses – Best Independent. We are also setting our sights on the TTG Top 50 Agency and other awards next!
What advice would you give to someone looking to set up a travel agency now?
Make sure you have the right team and staff – you are only as good as your people!
You have been a member of Advantage since 2008. Could you tell us how Advantage has supported your business over that time?
Advantage has provided invaluable support over the years to Border Travel in so many ways, notably in terms of negotiating favourable commercial terms, providing excellent marketing materials, and showing real strength in representing the entire Advantage group with any legislation and regulatory issues.
Finally, what are you and the Border Travel team doing to celebrate such an incredible milestone?
We have already passed the official day but we have lots of activities planned to celebrate, including monthly competitions for our customers to win free holidays or money towards their next holiday courtesy of our partners at Jet2holidays and TUI. We are taking all of the staff to the SPAA Awards in Glasgow in October and have done lots of PR already in local and trade press with Travel Weekly and Travel Matters etc. We may plan a celebration event towards the end of the year so watch this space.
Border Travel is based in Dumfries, Scotland, and you can find out more about them by visiting www.border-travel.co.uk.
