Trailfinders sets sail for centre:mk as travel takes off
Joint owners of centre:mk, Hermes Investment Management and AustralianSuper, have announced that, Trailfinders, the UK’s number one tour operator has signed for a 2,045 sq ft unit within the shopping centre, joining Virgin Holidays, which recently opened its 1,700 sq ft half-million-pound flagship v-room in November.
centre:mk has seen a 64% increase in travel space over the past two years as demand for travel operators has grown. Subsequently this has led to an increase in average spend within the sector, and according to Virgin Holidays, a growth of bookings for family destinations such as Orlando and New York for the more lavish spending holiday destination.
Ed Sellick, on behalf of centre:mk joint owners, Hermes Investment Management and AustralianSuper, commented: “centre:mk is continuing to evolve its travel offering, with a 64% increase in the space taken by travel retailers in the last two years. This level of investment by premium brands highlights the appeal of the centre supported by our large catchment, and reflects the positive momentum in the industry. We are looking forward to welcoming Trailfinders and their expert travel consultants to the destination soon.”
Founded in 1970 by former SAS officer Mike Gooley, Trailfinders are experts in tailor making itineraries worldwide and have made travel arrangements for over 15 million clients. Trailfinders have a wide range of flights, tours, hotels, cruises, car and motorhome hires across the globe, with the brand’s employees exploring over 96% of the world’s countries between them.
Nikki Davies of Trailfinders added: “Our consultants specialise in organising tailormade travel worldwide. As pioneers of travel, we understand just how important a holiday is for our customers, so with our bespoke service for each and every booking we look forward to bringing a unique offering to our new visitors in centre:mk. Our top selling destinations include the USA, Canada, Thailand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand but we offer a world of choice, wherever you’re looking to travel.”
Bradley Smith, Manager of Divisional Retail commented of Virgin Holidays added: “We’ve been thrilled with the performance of our brand new Milton Keynes v-room. Customers love the relaxed and informal style of our concept store where you can chat over your holiday plans with a Personal Holiday Advisor whilst enjoying a complementary Spa treatment.
“The most popular holidays for Milton Keynes locals tends to be family holidays to Orlando where you can enjoy the world’s best theme parks like Disneyworld and Universal as well as long weekends to New York where shopaholics can shop till they drop and finish the day off with a Broadway show. We’re now seeing a huge increase in cruise holidays as Virgin Voyages build excitement for its launch next year.”
Award-winning Trailfinders joins Virgin Holidays’ innovative v-room concept in centre:mk, which opened in November. It is the industry’s first ever travel store to offer personalised spa treatments, alongside a virtual reality roller coaster and an exotic cocktail bar.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Aver:
· Amanda McNally on 07495 461573, or via amandamcnally@averpr.com
· Yasemin Kiani on 07932 036085, or via yaseminkiani@averpr.com
Notes to Editors:
About Hermes Investment Management
Hermes Investment Management, a Federated Investors company, provides world-class active investment management and stewardship services. Hermes, headquartered in London, manages £33.5 billion in assets and offers a broad range of specialist, high-conviction investment strategies spanning listed equities, credit, real estate, infrastructure, private debt and private equity. Hermes’ strategies focus not just on financial results, but also on delivering outcomes beyond performance: holistic returns that consider impacts to society, the environment and the wider world. In Hermes EOS, the company offers one of the industry’s leading engagement resources, representing £389.4 billion of assets*. For more information, visit www.hermes-investment.com.
Please note the total AUM figure includes £6.5bn of assets managed or under an advisory agreement by Hermes GPE LLP (“HGPE”), a joint venture between Hermes Fund Managers Limited ("HFM") and GPE Partner Limited. HGPE is an independent entity and not part of the Hermes group. £19.0m of total group AUM figure represents HFM mandates under advice.
* Source: Hermes as at 31 December 2018 with the exception of two portfolios totalling £3.5m valued as at 30 September 2018.
About AustralianSuper
AustralianSuper manages more than AUD$140 billion of members’ assets on behalf of more than two million members from across 280,000 businesses. One in 10 working Australians is a member of AustralianSuper, the nation’s largest industry super fund.
About Trailfinders
Trailfinders win all the major travel awards for being the best of the best. Ranked the No.1 Travel Company in the UK with a rating of 9.9 out of 10 on Trust Pilot, they have also been voted the UK’s most trusted travel brand by readers of the Guardian and Best Tour Operator for six consecutive years by readers of The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, so you can be confident that your travel plans are in the safest of hands.