‘Huge honour’ - Longstanding South Shields travel agent picks up top award

A South Shields travel agent has been recognised for his long service to the travel industry.

Graeme Brett, the owner of Westoe Travel, on Westoe Road, in South Shields received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel at a ceremony in Newcastle.

Alongside his wife Joan, Graeme founded Westoe Travel in the back of the family’s newsagents 37 years ago - with the business having won numerous awards in the almost four decades since.

Rachel Mould, from Tour Operator Travelsphere, has highlighted Graeme's commitment to his customers and going out of the way to support them when they were stranded or encountered travel problems.

Graeme and Joan Brett, the owners of Westoe Travel, celebrating 35 years of business back in 2024.placeholder image
Graeme and Joan Brett, the owners of Westoe Travel, celebrating 35 years of business back in 2024. | Iconic Media

As she was presenting the award, she also gave examples of the support Graeme gave to customers during the Covid-19 pandemic by helping with cancelled bookings.

Having picked up the award, Graeme explained that he was shocked as he had no idea that it was to be presented to him.

He commented: “It is a huge honour to receive such an award from my colleagues and partners in the travel industry.”

“Travel has given us so many wonderful opportunities and I have visited some amazing places like Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, USA and Scandinavia.

“We have a very big bucket list of places to visit that we are working our way through but this award is the icing on the cake.”

Graeme also stated that “time had flown” and reflected on that three members of the current team at Westoe Travel were not born when the business was launched.

You can find out more about Westoe Travel at: https://www.westoetravel.co.uk/.

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