Speaking to TTG about the firm’s expansion plans, Kelly said Trailfinders aimed to seek out experienced travel professionals "who know the destinations and the products really well". "That is incredibly important for us," said Kelly.
"We have picked up some fantastic people over the past year, and it has become a much more important aspect of our recruitment. Overall, we will be a weaker industry if we lose that experience and talent.
"We are looking for human characteristics – patience, charm, knowledge, the stuff clients mention in reviews. People who will deliver really, really good levels of service."
Trailfinders is set to open a new store in Cheltenham on Friday (24 September) after opening in York on 20 August. Its Brighton base, meanwhile, will move to new freehold premises and is due to open on 30 September. It also has three further premises under negotiation, Kelly told TTG.
To support its expansion, Trailfinders plans to hire 65 new staff members across the UK and Ireland. The majority will be for travel consultant roles, but it is also looking to fill some operational roles at its London head office and in Oxford.
"It’s finally a positive story to tell," said Kelly of the company’s plans. "It’s certainly been a difficult time for everyone at Trailfinders, but it is fantastic to be able to offer these positions and to keep opening more travel centres.
"Our appetite to continue travel centre expansion hasn’t been affected by the pandemic. We will keep opening travel centres and we will keep opening them next year."
Kelly said the company had hired "some fantastic people" over the past year, and added a return to pre-pandemic demand for Trailfinders was "just around the corner".
"Where that corner is, whether it’s in two weeks’ time or three to six months’ time, we see a point where demand for us is going to be greater than pre-pandemic levels and we want to make sure we are going to be able to react to that and serve our clients."
