Henbury Travel boss urges consumers to ‘ditch web’ for travel agents

Henbury Travel is urging holidaymakers to ‘ditch the web’ and speak to its consultants instead as it reports a surge in bookings from in-store visits since the start of the year.

In its new year newsletter, managing director Richard Slater said customers were already choosing to come into the Macclesfield-based independent agency to see an agent in person rather than book online.

“This year Henbury Travel is seeing a significant increase in foot traffic as more customers choose to book in-store, bypassing online platforms in favour of the trusted expertise and personalised service the agency offers,” he said.

Slater said the desire for financial security was a “major driver” for encouraging clients to come into the agency for a face-to-face chat.

He added that the amount of holiday-related results to web searches was also overwhelming for many clients, and often did not answer whether holidays were financial protected.

The newsletter adds: “Ditch the web, visit us in person.”

Slater said in his post: “Instead of getting lost in the search results, just put the keyboard down and visit us. We’re your very own human holiday search engine, providing you with personalised advice and unbeatable deals.”

He added: “While online bookings have become the norm for many, there’s still something special about browsing holiday brochures and discussing options with a knowledgeable expert in person.”

The agency also cited increasing numbers of holiday scams as another reason for visiting an agency. “The best way to avoid scams is to book with your local Abta travel agent,” he said.

Henbury Travel has four staff, including Slater, who have more than 100 years’ travel experience combined. Its branch has real aircraft seats and a section of aircraft cabin floor to give clients the feeling of starting their holiday as soon as they walk through the door.