Barrhead Travel, one of the UK’s largest retail travel agencies, has opened its new flagship store on Gordon Street. The store has opened following a record-breaking start to the year for holiday bookings, as the travel group reports bookings remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.  

The new 4,000sqft store is split across two levels with an experience-led retail space on the ground floor and the first floor becoming a dedicated hub for its specialist sales divisions, including cruise, long haul, and Canada departments. An events space, a training room and private appointment space for clients looking for in-depth consultations are amongst features of its flexible layout.  

The new Gordon Street location will also trial the first paperless store front for Barrhead Travel in line with its sustainability commitments.   

More than 35 travel specialists, all with differing areas of expertise, will be based in the new flagship store with the group expecting to add further positions this year, including apprenticeships, as demand continues to soar.  

The opening follows recent £1m headquarters relocation to nearby Libertas House on St Vincent Place. The new flagship store was officially opened today by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce CEO, Stuart Patrick, with over 100 attendees joining the event including Barrhead Travel senior management and colleagues, loyal clients and travel suppliers as well as MSPs Annie Wells and Kaukab Stewart.  

Jacqueline Dobson, President of Barrhead Travel, said: “With travel demand exceeding 2019 levels, we’re pleased to be making significant investments in our team and retail locations. As more people return to travel agencies, we’re ensuring our spaces are innovative, modern and accessible to all.  

Our new flagship store marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Barrhead Travel as the industry embraces continued demand for responsible travel. The new space gives us the flexibility to offer a people-first, Book Human approach, that’s designed to offer clients the personalised support they need to secure the holiday of their dreams.”  

She added: “Although we are now a UK-wide business, Glasgow is our home and we’re delighted to continue to invest in the city with offices and retail premises that will play an important role in skills development and job creation.”  

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is welcome news for Glasgow as Barrhead Travel’s sustained growth amidst challenging conditions is extremely promising. Barrhead Travel is a Glasgow business success story which now operates UK wide but continues to invest in our city centre, support jobs and the local economy. We wish them every success in their new premises.”  

Barrhead Travel’s new Glasgow store is located at 31-33 Gordon Street and is open seven days per week until late.