Travel Corporation celebrates 100 Years
The family run and owned Travel Corporation hosted a lunch at the Old Government House last Friday to celebrate 100 years of business since Solomon Tollman, father of its chairman and founder Stanley Tollman, opened his first hotel in Paternoster, South Africa.
The business said it contributes over £10m. a year to Guernsey’s economy and its flagship brand Trafalgar has been operating from Picquet House for five decades.
CFO Mick Holland described The Travel Corporation, which owns 42 brands including Red Carnation Hotels and river cruise operator Uniworld, as ‘the biggest company you’ve never heard of’.
The lunch was attended by many high profile dignitaries, deputies and businessmen including deputies Gavin St Pier, Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins and representatives from Mourant Ozanne, Bank Julius Baer, Butterfield and Barclays.
Mr Holland said the island and the business had a mutually beneficial relationship.
‘We’ve been in business here for five decades and the head office for the whole business is here. Guernsey is very important to us and we’re very important to Guernsey.’
Its presence on Guernsey includes its Group Finance Department, its Trafalgar Travel agency and the call centre for a number of brands at Travel House, and two Red Carnation Hotels in the Old Government House and the Duke of Richmond.
Mr Holland said the Travel Corporation was keen on giving back to the island.
‘We are all immensely proud to work for this global company that is truly driven by service and cares deeply about not only its customers but also the communities in which it operates, with Guernsey being an important example.
‘We are empowered and encouraged by our owners to give back in any way we can, from local sustainability efforts and volunteering to charity events, and our office in Travel House has been a consistent holder of the Keep Guernsey Green award.’
Its Guernsey team contribute 100 volunteer days to local causes annually.
