Belfast agent's recommendation for Advantage and MICROS system

10 January 2011

Breakaway Travel has become the first travel agency for more than 20 years to open on the Shankill Road in Belfast. Agency founder and managing director, Brian White, said joining the Advantage Managed Services scheme had enabled him to establish the new branch, his second in six months.

The Shankill Road gained a notorious reputation during Northern Ireland’s troubles but is now undergoing regeneration and the area even saw its own tourism agency open last summer. White opened his first shop in the revamped Kennedy Shopping Centre on the Falls Road in Belfast over the summer.

He joined the (AMS) Advantage managed scheme scheme in October, handing over his back-office administration to the agency consortium in order to focus on selling holidays. White said: "It’s given me about 40% more time to focus on expanding the business and building our own local reputation".

"As the new kid on the block it has been a steep learning curve but I’ve recruited some great staff with over 30 years’ combined experience and the extra back office support from Advantage has been invaluable".

"The new Shankill Road shop is just one of several locations I’ve earmarked for future growth and I’m very excited to be the first high street travel agent back within this community." White comes from the building industry but has set up the agency with his son Mark, who has travel industry experience gained in Australia.

Launched last year, AMS gives members access to competitive commercial terms, consumer financial security, the MICROS Traveller back-office system, MICROS SABSLeisure booking system, staff incentives, marketing and business development support as well as foreign exchange and insurance products.