Lunn Poly facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Fate | Rebranded as Thomson, now TUI |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Parent | TUI Travel |
Lunn Poly was once the biggest chain of travel agents in the United Kingdom. They helped many people plan and book their holidays.
Contents
The Story of Lunn Poly
Lunn Poly started from two older travel companies. These were the Polytechnic Touring Association and Sir Henry Lunn Travel. Both companies began way back in the 1890s.
How Lunn Poly Began
In the 1950s, an airline group called British Eagle bought both companies. They then combined them to create Lunn Poly in 1965.
For a short time, Lunn Poly was owned by the government. It was part of a group called the Transport Holding Company. But in 1971, another company named Sunair bought Lunn Poly.
A year later, in 1972, Lunn Poly became part of the Thomson Travel Group. This was a very large travel company.
New Ways to Travel
Lunn Poly was one of the first travel companies to try new ideas. They separated holidays for fun from trips for business. Their shops on the high street focused on package holidays. These are holidays where flights, hotels, and sometimes activities are all booked together.
Special offices were set up to help businesses and companies with their travel needs. This new way of working was very successful. Lunn Poly grew a lot during the 1970s and 1980s. By the mid-1990s, it was the largest travel agency in the UK.
Becoming Thomson
Later, a company called TUI UK bought the Thomson Travel Group. TUI UK also owned an airline called Britannia Airways. In 2003, they changed the name of Britannia Airways to Thomsonfly.
At first, TUI UK said they would not change the name of Lunn Poly. But on November 2, 2004, they announced a big change. All 800 Lunn Poly shops in the United Kingdom would be renamed Thomson. This meant the Lunn Poly name disappeared from the high street.
Famous TV Adverts
Lunn Poly was also well-known for its funny TV adverts. These adverts showed people looking at holiday brochures. Then, another person would say in a surprised voice, "Lunn Poly? Get away!"
Right after they said this, the person looking at the brochure would vanish! They would then magically appear at a beautiful holiday spot. These adverts were very popular and helped people remember Lunn Poly.
