A GREENOCK-based bus firm has set the wheels in motion for a new coach travel venture with the launch of several holiday destination routes.
The McGill's Group, owned by Inverclyde businessmen Sandy and James Easdale, has set up a subsidiary called Loch Lomond Travel to take passengers to resorts and attractions all around the UK.
The transport company will soon take delivery of 25 brand new buses for exclusive use, while a new website has been launched and the inaugural 2024 brochure will be published at the end of February.
Tours on offer will include the North Coast 500, Lewis and Harris, In Search of the Northern Lights and The Greatest Railway Journey in the World on the Jacobite Train from Fort William to Mallaig.
Loch Lomond Travel will be headed up by managing director, Chris Bond, who has previously held senior executive positions at Caledonian Travel, Barrhead Travel and Tartan Travel.
He said: "A lot of work has gone into launching Loch Lomond Travel, making sure we have the right partnerships with the very best hotels and destinations that people want to visit.
"Our inaugural 2024 brochure highlights the great places that we will serve but we are very clear that this is only the start.
"The business will have its roots in Scotland but we have ambitions to drive growth and eventually serve the whole of the UK.
“We will also be working with agents in the coming months to increase the reach of the business as we grow and ensure our holidays are available to the widest number of people possible.
“It is an exciting time to be entering this market and we have an emphasis on serving holidaymakers of all ages, which we expect to be of real appeal for those planning a getaway in the months and years to come.”
Earlier this month, McGill's stepped up its investment in FlixBus, the inter-city coach operator it moved into partnership with in 2022, with the announcement of a £7.5 million investment to bring more state-of-the-art long-distance coaches into its fleet.
READ MORE: Billionaire Greenock businessmen invest £7.5m in growing bus venture
Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill’s Group, said: “There is undoubtedly a demand for high-quality, great value coach holidays and we are delighted to be launching Loch Lomond Travel to cater for that.
“McGill’s Group is ideally placed to venture into this market, with its extensive knowledge in coach operations, a quality fleet already in place, plus the backing of Sandy and James Easdale who can see the potential that exists to build a trusted brand.
“We’ve built a great and experienced team under Chris, all of whom know what holidaymakers are looking for in a UK break.
"The pandemic was a tough period for coach holiday operators but that has created an opportunity that we are sure Loch Lomond Travel will fill.”
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