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Advantage plans to rescue three failed Ambassdor shops
Advantage Travel Centres is putting together a rescue plan for three of the six branches of the defunct agency chain Ambassador Travel, which was placed into liquidation this week.
Miles Morgan has already bought the fixtures and fitting of one of the shops, Cathedral City Travel in Wells, Somerset, which will reopen this week. It will be run by previous branch manager Margaret Moulton with one existing member of staff.
It will change its name to Miles Morgan Travel and become the southwest miniple’s 12th shop.
Ambassador Travel, an Advantage member, ceased trading on January 16, citing cash-flow problems. Insolvency practitioners Durkan Cahill have been appointed to oversee the failure of the business, which had a £6.5m turnover.
Advantage said there was a possibility three of the remaining stores, which are in Aylesbury, Cheam, Gillingham, Lee-on-Solent and Wantage could be salvaged.
It is in discussion with the staff to take over the shops and become Advantage managed service agencies. Staff would run the shops, but leave Advantage to take care of the back-office functions.
Advantage sales and marketing director Colin O’Neill said the Lee-on-Solent branch, which has remained open since the collapse to manage existing bookings, would join Advantage "imminently".
"We are in discussions with two other branches and we expect something to materialise within the next week or so. Staff will take ownership of the shops and open them as independent outlets in their own right.
"We are hopeful this will go ahead, but discussions are being finalized."
O’Neill said up to 12 jobs could be rescued if Advantage is successful in getting the stores reopened, but he did not specify how any rescue package for the shops would be financed.
Advantage has already bought Ambassador Travel’s client database for a small sum, which has not been disclosed.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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