Interview with Travelbag 

Can you introduce yourself and tell me a little about your background?

I’m Caitlyn Pearce, I started in travel when I was 17 years old after walking into a high street travel agent and attempting to book a big family holiday. I’d done so much research that they joked ‘did I want a job’ and the rest is history!

I’ve now been with Travelbag 11 years, starting as a Sales Consultant here in Cheltenham, moving all around the business at one point even commuting to London weekly to manage our Baker Street branch, then coming full circle and taking the Cheltenham Manager’s role 18 months ago. It’s been a journey, that’s for sure!

Are the any other key people behind the Cheltenham business, and what roles do they play?

We are so lucky in Cheltenham that we have some of the most experienced and well-travelled Travel Specialists not just in the business, but in the industry. There isn’t a continent that between us we haven’t travelled to! It’s a nice mixture though, Paul is our most experienced with 25 years in the business, his favourite place is Japan, he’s been 4 times and knows it like the back of his hand. Nicola is just behind with 24 years and she’s been to nearly every African country and travelled extensively around Australia, the Indian Ocean and Asia. Leanne has been here 22 years and has been to many of the Maldivian islands and hotels, so knows them inside out, she’s visited a lot of the Middle East too. Dom has just returned from Sri Lanka so is our ‘go-to’ for that, he is also amazing at tailoring big Canada and US itineraries. Matt has been everywhere!! His favourite is India and South America. I was lucky enough to come back from Jordan last summer, and I know the Caribbean well after many years spent visiting the islands…so a real wealth of knowledge and experience amongst the team.

What sets your business apart from others in the same industry sector?

It has to be our experienced staff and our incredible customer service, obviously…😊 We are rated Excellent on Trust Pilot with a huge percentage of our clients giving us 5*’s. Little things like having the same Travel Specialists from enquiry stage all the way through to when you return home, you can call or email them whenever you like along the way and they’ll come back to you. There’s no sitting on hold for hours or struggling to find the answers to your questions on google…We make getting out there easy!

What kind of experience do you want customers to have when they walk through your doors?

You’ll be greeted by one of our Travel Specialists who will offer you a cuppa or a glass of fizz. We’ll sit you with one of our Travel Specialists who will help you piece together the perfect holiday ticking off all your requirements along the way. We take all of the hassle out of planning and booking your holiday, simple.

What three words would you use to sum up your brand?

I’ll give you 5 haha…as they are our Brand Values!!

Human, Energetic, Fun, Simple & Surprising.

What would success look like for your business over the next 12–18 months?

We have recently moved to a new premises on the prestigious Promenade in central Cheltenham. I would love for us to become more of a household name locally and increase our walk-in clients – that’s the way we love to communicate with our clients, in person!

About

An award-winning holiday company founded in 1979, Travelbag packs nearly 50 years of experience into creating your perfect holiday. They take out there, and make it easy. Travelbag’s knowledgeable Travel Specialists live and breathe holidays, so they’re always on hand with tips and advice to help you discover somewhere new and tailor-make your next adventure. Whether you want a relaxing beach break in Dubai, a tailor-made trip to Asia, a safari tour in Africa or a month-long adventure Down Under, Travelbag has got you covered. 

Today, we continue to simplify travel – making long-haul and multi-centre holidays easy and more affordable than ever.

Opening hours: 

Monday-Friday
09:00 – 19:00
Saturday
09:00 – 17:30
Sunday
Closed