The impact of Covid-19 on travel agents should be the catalyst for change with innovation replacing desperation, according to the head of a Queensland travel agency.
Faced with a coronavirus lockdown on travel, The Barrow and Bear travel agency has been keeping afloat its Wavell Heights business, north of Brisbane, with revenue from an espresso bar at the front of the store.
“Coffee bar sales provide all the revenue to pay retail staff and the café workers,” says Barrow and Bear managing director, Callum Whitehead.
The espresso bar was first introduced to the business three years ago but when travel bookings dried up this year, the shop was redesigned, and coffee became the star of the show.
“While relaxing over a coffee, customers can at least dream of their next travel experience,” said Whitehead.
Encouraging other travel agents to think seriously about their business model, Whitehead is planning to franchise the coffee bar/travel shop concept to other agencies.
“I think it’s the way forward for travel agencies. We are going to need to get used to change,” he said.
Where coffee meets travel at the Barrow and Bear in Queensland.
Other travel agents in Australia are already diversifying with clever ideas aimed at providing income in tough times and maintaining close relationships with clients and communities.
A travel agent in Melbourne has turned her retail store into a lolly shop selling international favourites from the US, UK, New Zealand and South Korea.
“Many of the kids in our area have been overseas with their parents and they recognise the sweets they enjoyed in other countries,” said Sue Brownley, whose Belmore Travel business in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn is a member of the Travellers Choice, a network of independent travel agents in Australia.
The shop, A World of Lollies, will become a permanent part of the agency when travel business returns.
Debi Kitt (right) with Healthy tummies staff member Shirlie Baum.
Another Travellers Choice member, Debi Kitt of Boomerang Travel Centre in the small town of Kyabram in Victoria, has converted her travel business into a health food store – and will continue to sell those products in her store even when travel business returns.
“I have coeliac and have struggled over the years to get good food without going to Melbourne or shopping online. With this in mind, I decided to open a health food shop.
“I didn’t want to close Boomerang Travel Centre, it’s my baby, and I’ve worked so hard over 20 years so I decided to alter the premises and add Healthy Tummies Pantry to my already existing space," said Kitt.
“The support I’ve had is just astounding.”