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Polka Dot Travel announces redundancies as shops reopen
Three members of the Polka Dot Travel management team have been made redundant as the chain reopened 14 of its 19 stores today.
They are head of sales Jenny Lyons, head of marketing and business development Ash Tilsley and marketing manager Abby Dunn.
Director Mark Johnson said the company had had to make tough decisions due to the ‘huge’ downturn in the market and ‘uncertainty surrounding the industry at present’.
The independent chain has put new safety measures in place in the 14 shops it reopened.
"We anticipate that travellers will want an increased level of support and reassurance, as we slowly return to normal," said Johnson. "This means customer service, particularly face to face, to instil confidence in our customers is key.
"The problems caused to travel arrangements by Covid-19 has reminded consumers of the benefits of booking through an agent. Therefore, we think the sooner our stores open the better."
The stores re-opened are Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Nantwich, Llandudno, Market Drayton, Rhyl, Newcastle under Lyme, Longton, Hanley, Cannock, Leek, Lichfield, Stafford.
Polka Dot said it will see how the response is to new business and gauge how customers are’¨dealing with the new normal before deciding when to open the remaining five shops.
It added: "We will constantly review the opening of the remaining stores and aim to have all 19 shops open by October at the latest."
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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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