Published: 07:15 EDT, 25 October 2012 | Updated: 07:41 EDT, 25 October 2012

A new breed of hi-tech holiday company is helping to revive the fortunes of the high street travel agent in a trend that could mean holidaymakers increasingly favour face-to-face bookings.

Travel firm Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) yesterday opened its first stand-alone 'boutique' shop in Cheapside, in the heart of London's City area, although there's no sign of the racks of brochures.

Instead, customers can 'Skype' - an online voice and video tool - local A&K experts in 25 countries, while 'travel curators' use iPads to showcase some of the experiences they could be enjoying.

Hi-tech holiday: Abercrombie & Kent staff work on iPads and trendy laptops

Back in time: Customers will be able to book their breaks in an environment that evokes a different age

In a nod to the golden age of travel, vintage chests contain bespoke canvas maps made by Oxford mapmakers Lovell Johns.

All of this can be enjoyed in the Sundowner bar, where City workers can sip wine from some of the company's worldwide destinations.

Paul Bauer, Abercrombie & Kent South Africa managing director, told the Evening Standard: 'Guests can get [on Skype] all the detailed information direct, they can ask any questions they like, there and then.

'They might want to know about restaurants, what to do with the children, what to pack.'

World's your oyster: Kuoni is in the process of launching a number of concessions in John Lewis stores

The opening of the flagship store - there is already a concession in Harrods - is the latest in a number of travel firms that have chosen the high street.

ABTA, The Travel Association estimate that 20 years ago, around 80 per cent of foreign holiday sales were made through high street travel agents, an industry that was subsequently hit by the emergence of call centres and the internet.

Earlier this week, high-end holiday provider Kuoni opened a branch at the John Lewis department store on Oxford Street, with more to follow.

Budget airline Ryanair has even been in on the act, opening a temporary pop-up shop in Manchester in September, offering flights and the chance for visitors to speak to staff.

Yesteryear: In the early Nineties, 80 per cent of travellers used a travel agent

Recent research by ABTA has shown that in the last three years, there has been a 10 per cent increase in people booking an overseas holiday through their high street travel agent.

Some 27 per cent of people now use the booking method - an increase of ten per cent on those doing so in 2010.

Perhaps surprisingly, the study found that the younger generation of travellers are the biggest fans.

A total of 45 per cent of 15-24-year-olds said they valued the services of a travel agent - up from 30 per cent in 2011.

An ABTA spokesman said: 'What these latest findings show is that holidaymakers, particularly the younger generation, increasingly value the reassurance, guidance and way of saving time provided by the personal interaction with a travel professional.'

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Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

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