Wheathampstead Holiday Agency Wins Herts Business Recovery Grants

Businesses in the hospitality and tourism industry recently secured bailout funding from the Crowdfund Hertfordshire. One of the benefiting businesses is a Wheathampstead holiday company. The company, 2by2 Holidays located in Wheathampstead is among the four companies that were awarded the fund which was released to help companies get back up the devastating effects of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

2by2 Holidays received the funding for the proposed launch of the company’s Auriel Holidays project which will be targeted at providing holidays that are tailored specifically to fit into current travel restrictions in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The business innovation funds from the Crowdfund Hertfordshire will supportbusinesses that have been most affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

2by2 Holidays has been in the business of creating customized holidays to various locations all over the world like India, Africa, and Latin America for several years.

The company which has been in business for more than 20 years is planning to launch a new firm, Auriel Holidays with the bailout fund.

The new agency will provide solutions that fit perfectly into the ongoing travel restriction making it possible for tourists who still want to travel during this period to see it happen.

Auriel Holidays will deliver holidays in the UK and other parts of Europe with a focus on road trips, rail journeys, and other travel options that are not affected by the restrictions. The holiday plans will include simple small group wildlife tours, hikes, and rail tours. It will also include some island hopping tours in locations like Ireland, Scotland, the Channel Islands and the Isles of Scilly.

Claire Farley, head of 2by2 Holidays explained that the travel and tourism industry has been one of the most hardly impacted by the pandemic and there is still a lot of uncertainties about when normalcy will return to the industry in terms of international travels.

Faley explained that the lack of income for the past few months meant their options was limited to either laying off some of their staff or looking for ways to diversify their services despite the precarious situation of things.

The crowdfunding scheme sponsored by Visit Herts & Herts LEP was the creative solution the company needed to stay afloat. Businesses who participated in the scheme were required to raise money through pledges. Once the target of the business has been reached, the funds needed for the project will be unlocked from the scheme.
While Claire is grateful for the grant, she says there still a lot that needs to be done. She believes there is still a mountain to climb, but the grant has made it possible to start looking for innovative solutions to the holiday problems by focusing on locations closer to home in Europe.