As Fred. Olsen Travel celebrated its 35th anniversary on 1st June, the company has announced that turnover is expected to break through £100 million by the end of the year with further growth planned.
Over 135 guests comprising Fred. Olsen Travel staff as well as some key operator partners attended a commemorative dinner at the Belstead Brook Hotel in Ipswich. During the event there was a prize draw with money raised going towards the purchase of two defibrillators which will be sited in locations where there are Fred. Olsen Travel agencies.
Steve Williams, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Travel, comments: “It was such a very special occasion. It’s always fantastic to bring all parts of the business together and celebrate as only the travel industry knows how. It’s been a roller coaster journey and it was incredible to share such a positive evening with the people that helped support the company through some dark days. It was a time to reflect on the journey we have been on but also to look to the future as we are on track to deliver a record year and have some ambitious plans to take the business forward.”
When Fred. Olsen Travel opened its doors in Ipswich in June 1988 it comprised one retail outlet in Ipswich which also handled business travel, as well as some general sales agencies for companies including Norwegian Coastal Voyages (now Hurtigruten) and Peter Deilmann River Cruises. Over the next few years, the company became a UK sales agent for Star Clipper and expanded its portfolio of retail outlets in East Anglia.
Key dates over the last 35 years include:
1988: Fred. Olsen Travel opened its first retail outlet in East Anglia. There are currently ten branches in the region.
2004: Fred. Olsen Travel entered the world of franchising with the acquisition of Go Cruise from Victoria Travel.
2005: Steve Williams became Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Travel when turnover was £17 million. Turnover is expected to break through £100 million by the end of the year.
2013: The Fred. Holidays tour operation product was created and the company has subsequently added River, Rail and Discover to its portfolio of specialisms.
2015: Fred. Olsen Travel opened its first retail agency on the South Coast. There are currently six branches on the South Coast.
2022: Fred. Olsen Travel opened its first retail agency in West Sussex and a second will be opening shortly.
2023: By the end of the year, Fred. Olsen Travel will have 18 retail agencies in East Anglia, on the South Coast and in West Sussex.
2023: Following a strategy review of the Fred. Olsen Travel business, two new operational director roles were created – Director of Retail and Director of Tour Operation which is headed up by Paul Hardwick and Director of Tour Operations which is headed up by Tricia Birmingham.
