General manager Vanessa Bird, who has led the business since 1999, said changing consortia “had not been a quick decision” for the business.

Owen’s was founded by Michael Owen in Oswestry in the early 1990s and has expanded to three agencies, two in Shropshire and another over the Welsh border in Powys.

“With Worldchoice, we feel the chemistry with the team was right from the outset and their proposition is the right one for us moving forward,” said Bird.

“Changing consortia has not been a quick decision for us, but we felt it was time.”

Gary Lewis, chief executive of Worldchoice parent The Travel Network Group, added: “Vanessa runs a strong and well-respected full-service independent travel business that has a very loyal customer base.

"They will be a great addition to our Worldchoice membership and we are very much looking forward to working with them.”

Owen’s of Oswestry Coaches, the business’s coach holiday division, will continue to operate separately outside of the agency’s Worldchoice membership.