UK Franchises and Business Opportunities For Women
UK Franchises and Business Opportunities For Women
12th February 2026
GoCruise & Travel, part of the Fred. Olsen Travel Group, has had an exciting start to 2026 with the opening of its fifth high street shop in Manningtree, Essex. Situated on Manningtree High Street, the shop was officially opened on Saturday 10th January by Councillor Ruth Stocks.
The new GoCruise & Travel shop is owned and operated by franchisees Karen and Mark Stanley and offers tailor-made holidays and cruises, expert advice and exclusive deals.
Karen and Mark have been involved in the travel industry for over 15 years and bring a wealth of expertise, knowledge and first-hand experience in creating and recommending the right cruise and holiday option for their customers.
Karen Stanley comments: “It’s a pleasure and an absolute dream come true to be able to do what we do best – connect with customers and provide wonderful holiday experiences. We are so grateful for the warm welcome we have received from the town and we can’t wait to start serving and supporting the local community.
Colin Martin-Weekes, GoCruise & Travel’s Head of Franchise, comments: “It’s always so exciting to see our franchisees grow their businesses and succeed at what they do best. I wish Karen and Mark all the best for their new venture and look forward to supporting them on their journey.”
An amazing opportunity to get into the travel sector with a well established brand, very supportive Head Office team plus the global power of the Fred Olsen family behind us.
The business model suited my long-term ambitions, and having your own postcodes where you can market yourself was a real selling point. I could see gaps in the market, so we took the big decision to relocate to Cornwall from Hertfordshire.
I enjoy the no pressure approach from the partners back in HQ, which enables me to mix the opportunity to own and run a cruise focused travel agency, alongside my own desire to travel regularly and see our cruise partners ships first hand.
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