A “trail-blazing” Glasgow tour operator has moved into employee ownership after 21 years in business.
McKinlay Kidd, which provides tailor-made holidays of Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales and then Channel Islands, has made the switch after founders Heather McKinlay and Robert Kidd judged it was the “right succession planning model” for the firm.
It comes as the firm is on track to turn over £8 million in its current financial year.
Ownership of the business has been transferred to the McKinlay Kidd Employee Ownership Trust for the benefit of its 25 employees.
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Zoe Davidson will continue to lead the firm as managing director further to the change, with Ms McKinlay and Mr Kidd taking a step back. Ms McKinlay will remain on the board.
The board, which has been boosted by the recruitment of tourism veteran Richard Carrick, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations, under the control of the McKinlay Kidd Ownership Trust as sole shareholder.
Ms McKinlay said: “We are confident that under the new employee ownership model and Zoe’s leadership, McKinlay Kidd will continue to flourish - providing exemplar customer service, supporting the communities in which it operates and delivering fantastic tailormade holidays now and in the future.
“Emerging technology, like AI, may provide new ways to engage and service customers, but as ongoing feedback and our own research proves, the level of direct human interaction McKinlay Kidd delivers really is irreplaceable.
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“Our customers want to be able to contact us directly and speak to travel advisors who know the ins and outs of the destinations personally. Over many years we have developed partnerships with hundreds of predominantly family-run businesses, so that our customers can really get under the skin of a place, exploring beyond the tourism hotspots and supporting the communities they visit.”
Mr Kidd added: “This human approach builds trust, creates the most memorable and meaningful holidays, connects visitors to people and places, and drives responsible tourism. It is key to ensuring that tourism supports thriving communities economically, culturally, socially and environmentally.”
“This belief was echoed in recent visitor research by Euromonitor International Ltd (2024), which found “personal connection and deeper community engagement does not just improve visitor experience, it can also help foster a mutually beneficial relationship between visitor, community and the tourism sector and its employees.”
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