Almost all of the business’s 80 staff, who work across the agency’s 15 branches and its Chepstow head office, attended the company’s Christmas bash on December 17, which was held on the eve of its 10th anniversary.
“At midnight we clinked glasses and a brilliant time was had by all,” founder Miles Morgan told TTG.
“It was the best night out we have ever had together.”
At the party, held at the Chepstow St Pierre and Marriott Hotel, Morgan gave a speech thanking his staff for their hard work before calling out a specific few members of the team.
“There are eight staff who have been with me since the very beginning, when I bought the 10 shops in 2006,” he explained.
“I wanted to give them a special thank you. I think they thought they were going to get a certificate, but I gave them each a £1,000 cheque.”
At the party, the company laid on a dinner, overnight stay, drinks, a casino and a photo booth.
The seven recipients were Tracey Murray and Fiona Fortune from the Portishead store; Nina Robertshaw and Trisha Sayce from the Ross-on-Wye shop; Hayley Peachey, Sarah Madden and Claire Griffiths from the Nailsworth branch; and Amy Probert from Cheltenham.
Murray, who worked at the Lunn Poly (and then Thomson) shop in Portishead which Morgan then bought, said: “It was so lovely and we had absolutely no idea. We thought we were just going up to receive a certificate or something but never expected this. “It’s brilliant to work for Miles. As a manager I feel like I can make my own decisions, but he’s always at the end of the phone when you need him.
“He takes a lot of pride in catching up with staff and visiting stores.”
Griffiths, who was also working for Thomson when Morgan acquired its store in Nailsworth, added: “It was such a surprise. Working for Miles Morgan Travel is just like one big family and Miles is always there if you need him.”