Holidays 2021: Bedfordshire travel agent encourages customers to Love Local, Book Local when thinking about booking their next holiday

Savvi Travel is encouraging people in Ampthill to remember their local travel agents and travel advisors when choosing their next holiday.

The independent travel agent, a member of The Travel Network Group, reopened its doors - including the shop Bedford Street, in Ampthill - on Monday, April 12, and hopes that people will support the high street by thinking locally, including when they are thinking of booking their next trip away.

Over the past 12 months, the most asked holiday related questions on Google were around how advisable and safe it was to book holidays.

Dave Batley, CEO of the Savvi Travel Group, thinks travel businesses such as Savvi Travel are best placed to help customers navigate this period of uncertainty and answer their many questions.

He said: “We are starting to see some positive shoots of recovery. The vaccination rollout is helping people feel more confident about future travel.

"We know there is an appetite for travel, but at the same time, understandably, people have questions around how advisable and safe it is to book a holiday.

“We just want to remind everyone that we can offer practical advice and reassurance about a lot of the questions people have – whether they be about testing, quarantine, safety measures in resorts or cancellation policies and refunds.

"We have seen a behaviour shift from consumers in the way they support local businesses, rather than big organisations, so we hope that, when the time comes to book their next holiday, people think local too.

“Not only are we a part of the Ampthill local community, but we can provide a personal service when planning or booking a trip, whilst giving the latest advice and updates on travel and managing any changes or updates to bookings."

Savvi Travel has been operating in Ampthill for five years and employs three people.

From 30 April Savvi Travel will be running a campaign to encourage people to Love Local, Book Local when thinking about booking their next holiday.

To make sure staff and customers are safe, screens and sanitising stations have been put in place, and all staff will be wearing face masks.