Travel agent creates children’s ‘TV character’

The director of LAH Travel is trying to launch a children’s TV show starring a character who starts every adventure in a travel agency.

Linda Hill, who owns two shops in Ayrshire, has worked with an author to create a series of books featuring a dragon-like creature called ‘Kaleido’.

She has also designed a puppet, launched a website and hopes to produce merchandise in addition to a TV show and YouTube series.

“The big vision is to have a theme park ride,” said Hill, who is encouraging the trade to rally around her plans.

The idea for Kaleido arose 18 months ago when Hill’s niece was nervous about going on her first cruise.

Hill was inspired to create a character who would soothe children’s anxiety about travel, while helping them learn about the world.

Kaleido will prepare youngsters for checking in at an airport, boarding a busy aircraft and finding their way around a large cruise ship.

He will also give lessons that are “closely linked to the school curriculum”, said Hill, who has 35 years’ experience in the travel industry.

She would like her character to become “as big as possible” and believes Kaleido can support the future of the trade.

“One of the things I’m really keen to do is teach children that booking with travel agents is the future,” said Hill. “Every time Kaleido goes on an adventure, he starts in a travel agency.”

Kaleido, who hatches from an egg on an Ayrshire beach, is described as similar to a dragon, sea creature or dinosaur, but nobody knows his true species.

Voice actor Sally Preisig, who worked on Tweenies, has agreed to supply Kaleido’s voice. She voiced Bella on the BBC programme which ran from 1999-2002.

Hill introduced Kaleido to travel agents at the Classic Package Holidays Festival in Belek, Turkey, in late March.

She said children’s author Shirley Husband and illustrator Maurice Hynds were helping to bring the character to life.

LAH Travel’s branches in West Kilbride and Kilmarnock both act as a “one-stop shop”, said Hill, but high-end, long-haul trips are among the key strengths. Cruises are also particularly popular.

Picture: Linda Hill (right) with children’s character Kaleido and Hill’s husband Paul Miller