Following the sad news that all remaining Beales department stores are to close, the team at Fred. Olsen Travel Agents would like to reassure customers that they will still have a presence within the city.
It was announced last week that, with a deal still not reached, all of the remaining Beales department stores (including branches of Palmers purchased in 2018) are to close. Since 2016, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents has operated from within the Bournemouth store, helping many people in the area book and enjoy fantastic holidays all over the world.
Going forward, the familiar faces of the passionate Bournemouth team (Clare, Helen and Beth) will move to other south coast branches, so that anyone who previously booked at Beales will still be able to easily access their bookings. Clare will be working out of the Christchurch branch, whilst Helen and Beth can be found in Westbourne – both stores are just a short journey from Bournemouth. Additionally, other members of the team will be more than happy to help in Lymington, Hythe or Dorchester, if these locations are more convenient.
To try to make it even more convenient for our existing and potential new customers, plans have also been made for the team to offer a pop-up shop once a week in the Pavilion Terrace Café. Starting Friday 6th March, and every Friday thereafter, Clare, Helen and Beth will be greeting customers between 11am and 4pm. Travellers will be able to talk about their existing bookings, as well as book new trips as they would in any of the other branches.
Paul Hardwick, Head of Commercial for Fred. Olsen Travel, is delighted that the company will be able to continue operating in Bournemouth. “We want the people of Bournemouth to know that we are committed to offering them a great service when it comes to booking their holiday. Whilst we look for a long-term location for our branch and staff, Clare will be based just 7 miles down the road in our Christchurch branch, and Helen and Beth will be moving just 1.3 miles up the road to our Fred. Olsen Travel branch in Westbourne,” he said.
Hardwick continued by saying, “We hope by retaining the staff and having an opportunity for Bournemouth customers to still book in a convenient location to them, even with the sad closure of the Beales department store, Fred. Olsen Travel will continue to thrive and grow in this fantastic town.”
Fred. Olsen Travel is an independent travel company that benefits from over 150 years of experience behind the Fred. Olsen name. Encompassing a number of different specialisms, they can help arrange holidays in a variety of different forms – land or water, ocean or river, escorted or tailor-made. The brand comprises 17 highstreet travel agencies across East Anglia and along the south coast, over 60 homeworking franchisees as part of the GoCruise & Travel network, and operates as UK General Sales Agents for companies such as Star Clippers, Collette and Amadeus River Cruises.
Fred. Olsen Travel is bonded by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Air Travel Organisers Licensing (ATOL) scheme.
