Baldwins Travel Agency
 | |
| Limited Company | |
| Industry | Travel Agency |
| Founded | 1895 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | 27 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2AJ |
Number of locations | 11 |
Area served | Westerham, Haywards Heath, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden, Lewes, Grantham, Uckfield, Sevenoaks, Cranbrook |
Key people |
|
Number of employees | 60 |
| Website | baldwinstravel |
Baldwins Travel Agency is an independent travel agency based in the United Kingdom.[1] Established in 1895 by the Baldwin family, the agency primarily serves clients in Kent, Sussex, and Lincolnshire. It provides a range of travel services, including booking air tickets, cruise vacations, accommodation, car rentals, weddings, honeymoons, and customized vacation packages.[2][3]
Overview
Baldwins Travel Agency is a family-owned independent travel agency that was established in Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom, in 1985. It has since expanded to become the largest independent travel agent in Kent,[4][5][6] Sussex, and Lincolnshire. The agency operates eleven branches located in Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Grantham, Haywards Heath, Lewes, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tenterden, Tonbridge, Uckfield, and Westerham.[7]
Nick Marks, the CEO and Managing Director, leads the agency. Baldwins Travel Agency is a member of The Advantage Travel Partnership.[8]
History
1895
Alfred K. Baldwin, an established printer, bookbinder, and publisher in Tunbridge Wells, transitioned his business to focus on travel. His son Charles Baldwin rebrands the firm Baldwins and begins selling railway tickets, eventually establishing a travel agency at 27 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells.
1952
Tom Botting, a dedicated Baldwin's employee, acquires the business from Herbert Baldwin, focusing on expanding it.
1991
Ron Marks takes over Baldwins Travel, which by now has three offices in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, and Tonbridge.
2003
The agency expands by acquiring Sevenoaks Travel Ltd. in Dorset Street, Sevenoaks.
2010
Red Box Travel in Uckfield joins the Baldwins Travel Agency group.
2013
Baldwins Travel acquires Travelux Tenterden, retaining the Travelux name to honor its previous owner, Ian Hopley, who retired. They establish a new marketing team to facilitate future growth.
2015
Grace Travel Cranbrook becomes part of Baldwins Travel and is rebranded as Baldwins Travel Cranbrook after 12 months.
2016
Lewes Travel joins the group and rebrands as Baldwins Travel—Lewes. Simultaneously, all branches establish a Foreign Exchange Bureau with the aim of enhancing customer service and offering competitive rates.
2018
Baldwins Travel replaces Sevenoaks Travel and Travelux Tenterden in a brand update. During the same year, the company updated all its branches with new signage and fascias.
2021
The company was acquired by Inc. & Co., an investment group co-founded by Jack Mason, Scott Dylan, and Dave Antrobus. The company focuses on acquiring and revitalizing distressed businesses and aims to help Baldwins Travel Agency navigate the COVID-19 crisis and challenges.[9]
2023
The agency opened a new branch in Haywards Heath.
2024
Baldwins Travel opens a new branch in Grantham and acquires Westerham Travel.
Services
Baldwins Travel Agency offers a range of travel services for both individual and corporate clients.[10] The agency provides assistance with booking flights, accommodation, car rentals, and vacation packages, including late deals, package holidays, cruises, and ski holidays. It also facilitates arrangements for weddings and honeymoons abroad, as well as tailor-made itineraries to suit specific requirements and budgets. Additional services include travel insurance, car hire, and airport parking.[11][12][13]
Awards and recognitions
Baldwins Travel Agency has received several notable awards in recognition of its performance in the travel industry.
- In 2024, the company received the National High Street Travel Agent of the Year and Travel Agent of the Year for London and South East England awards.[14][15]
- The company won the title of Travel Agent of the Year for South East England in 2023.[16]
- In 2021, Baldwins Travel won the Travel Agent of the Year for London and the South East for the 14th consecutive year.
- The agency also secured the National High Street Agency of the Year award in 2019, marking its fourth win in this category since 2014.
References
- ↑ "Baldwins Travel, Tonbridge". TTG. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "Baldwins Travel". Focus Travel Partnership. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "New travel agency opens in town". LincsOnline. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ Ltd, Jacobs Media Group. "Baldwins Travel acquires Kent agency Westerham Travel". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "Travel firm sold to Kent rival". Kent Online. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ McNeill, Linsey (8 May 2024). "Baldwins Travel MD reveals further expansion plans after snapping up Kent agency". Travel Gossip. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "ReSolve advises on successful share sale of Baldwins Travel Agents". ReSolve Advisory. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ Ltd, Jacobs Media Group. "New Baldwins Travel owner plans 'super-brand' role for agency". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ Ltd, Jacobs Media Group. "Baldwins Travel acquired by business investors Inc & Co". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ Ltd, Jacobs Media Group. "Baldwins Travel sets up The Travel Specialist franchise". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ McNeill, Linsey (24 June 2024). "Baldwins Travel launches homeworking company for new and experienced agents". Travel Gossip. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ Williams, Richard (14 September 2021). "Centuries old travel company bought out". Tunbridge Wells Local News | Times Local Newspapers & Magazines. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "Breaking Travel News". www.breakingtravelnews.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "Baldwins Travel Triumphs at Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards 2024". www.wfxrtv.com. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "Baldwins Travel Achieves Regional and National Recognition in 2024 Awards - Travel And Tour World". www.travelandtourworld.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ↑ "Tunbridge Wells Travel Agency named the best in the South East". Sevenoaks District Chamber of Commerce. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2024.