Manchester entrepreneurs appear to be defying the coronavirus pandemic with two new travel firms having been launched this week.
Low Season Traveller by Mancunian Ged Brown has begun operations with the aim of inspiring people to visit worldwide destinations during their 'low seasons', while Trending Travel has been launched by Keith Herman alongside co-founder, Sophie Foster.
Trending Travel sells package holidays with a focus on sending celebrities and influencers along to endorse the destinations.
The launches come despite the travel, tourism and hospitality industries being hit particularly hard by measures enforced due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Low Season Traveller claims to be the world’s first travel company dedicated to inspiring travellers to visit worldwide destinations during their low seasons .
Mr Brown, who has 25 years’ experience in the global travel industry, said the launch has been timed to start the "rebirth" of the worldwide travel industry following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The firm's head office is in Manchester.
Mr Brown said: “For the past two years, myself and the team have been working on this project with partners across the global leisure industry including tourism organisations, hotels, transport and visitor attractions.
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"We are convinced that there is a real gap in the market for low season travel and the recent pandemic has only endorsed our view further.
"There could never be a better time for us to launch Low Season Traveller highlighting to travellers how to avoid busy tourist spots and delivering effective ‘social distancing’.
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"By showing how to deliver value for money, live like the locals and importantly how to avoid the crowds, we are confident that travellers will be inspired by our low season destination portfolio.
"As the programme develops, we will also support a number of local community charities through our legacy initiative, something that we are very proud of.
"We now look forward to inspiring travellers as the travel industry adapts to challenging market conditions post Covid-19 alongside attracting a wider number of domestic and international visitors to the North West in 2021 supporting our vital tourism economy.’’
Mr Herman, CEO of Trending Travel, said the firm has already sent celebrities to endorse locations, including Love Island's Jessica Shears and Dom Lever, Strictly Come Dancing's Saffron Barker, model Felicity Hayward and actor Emma Barton.
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The firm will be based in Manchester and London, and Mr Herman said: “We know people desperately want to travel, now, more than ever, and Trending Travel is here and ready to help.
"We use our knowledge of travel and some very special contacts within the celeb and influencer world to create what the public want. People can now follow their favourite stars and we can give them the opportunity to enjoy the same experiences. We’ve made our website an engaging and cool place to come, not simply a place to buy a flight or a hotel.”
The holidays on offer include destinations for families, adult-only "luxury" getaways, honeymoons, and party destinations.
Mr Herman added: “We have created a travel company that engages directly with our customers. Our aim is to inform, excite and delight them, even before they step on the plane.
“We are ready to showcase what we’ve been working on for the past few months and share the incredible holidays that some of our celebrity clients have already enjoyed.”