With our 65th Birthday party just a few months away, Phil and Paula decided to take us on a walk down memory lane, to reminisce about the last 65 years in travel, and the history of how the Travel Village Group came to be…
From the humble beginnings of an idea brought about by Phil’s grandfather and entrepreneur Eric Bourne, the business has developed to an award-winning national agency and an international homeworking network!
Travel Village Group History 1959 – 2024
Key family & business moments:
1959: Eric Bourne starts selling coach day trip tickets across the counter at the Post Office to Blackpool locals. Eric then realised that there would be an opportunity to sell holidays abroad to the landladies/landlords of Blackpool’s numerous B&B establishments, so contacted ABTA to become a licensed travel agent. Eric’s daughter and son – Carol (joined by husband Peter) and Dennis – were involved from the get-go.
1978: Dennis’ sister Carol-Anne joins the business selling holidays (Carol Anne now works within our Finance team)
1983: Phil (Carol & Peter’s son) joins the business (as Bourne Travel), stamping brochures at 10p for every 100 brochures!
1990: Susan (Dennis’ daughter) steps into the business selling holidays, and now manages our Support and Training team.
2002: Carol & Peter retire, and Phil takes the helm. The Highfield Road shop changes from Bourne Travel to Save’n’Sail – the UK’s first highstreet cruise agency.
2009: Phil takes cruising online, launching our flagship cruise website and brand – the Cruise Village.
2010: Our award-winning brand Southampton Cruise Centre launched, specialising in cruising from the UK.
2011: Our award-winning brand RiverCruising.co.uk launched.
2013: Jess (Mop) (Phil’s daughter, and our fourth generation) joins the business, after a stint doing work experience at Carnival House in Southampton for P&O Cruises.
2014: Dan (Paula’s son) joins the business to head up our IT and Telecommunications, and Denise (Paula’s sister) joins the Finance team.
2015: The business celebrates as Phil & Paula tie the knot!
2018: Paula (Business Director and Phil’s Wife) launches the Holiday Village brand.
2018: Our Highfield Road store gets a makeover with a rebranding to the Travel Village.
2023: Southampton Cruise Centre becomes our flagship cruise brand. The website became a true e-commerce platform with a new online booking journey.
2024: We’ll finish the year in style with a celebration of travel at our 65th birthday party! Our Winter Wonderland at Blackpool’s iconic Tower Ballroom! Here’s to many more amazing years!
