Macclesfield Travel Agent appointed to the ABTA Board of Directors
Richard Slater, Managing Director of Macclesfield based travel agent Henbury Travel, has been appointed to the ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) Board of Directors. Mr Slater was selected by ABTA regional chairs to be put forward for appointment. He will join fellow board members including Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, Andrew Flintham, Managing Director of TUI, and Ruth Marshall of Royal Caribbean International.
Alistair Rowland ABTA Chairman said: “Richard has been ABTA Regional Chair for the Northwest since 2019 and over that time has been a tireless advocate for his fellow ABTA members. During the pandemic Richard was a regular presence on local TV and radio making the case for high street retailers as well as providing informed and articulate comment for the national media. Richard’s experience and expertise will be invaluable for his fellow Board members, and I am delighted to welcome him to the team.”
Richard Slater said: “I am delighted and honoured that my fellow ABTA regional chairs have selected me to be their representative on the ABTA Board of Directors. I look forward to working with the other directors and hope that my experience of and commitment to the high street travel agency market helps in the development of the future strategy of our association.”
Mr Slater who established his business in 2011, expanded into retail premises on to Chestergate in 2018, and moved to No.42 Chestergate in November 2022 doubling his sale area, and with this came sales growth of over 30% in the last twelve months as holidaymakers return to booking with independent travel agents in their droves, as they want security, service, value and expertise when booking their holiday.
On his Macclesfield location Slater commented: “Chestergate is one of the most thriving shopping and leisure venues in Cheshire East, and perhaps the Northwest, we’ve got almost every retail unit occupied on the street with some superb independent businesses and cafes, you’d have to search hard to find a street with such a low number of empty shops, and that’s why I made it Macclesfield!”