A well-known local travel business closed its doors this week in North Bay.
"While business is always competitive by nature, I’m sure all local travel agencies regret the recent closure of North Bay’s first travel agency – Keystone Travel – as the loss of a long time friend,” commented local agency owner Chris Mayne.
The business was originally opened in the 1950’s by John Kennedy and Howie Allard to sell fishing packages to Keystone Lodge on Lake Nipissing. The lodge is situated on an eight acre island on the Upper French River, built on a rounded rock plateau, surrounded by large pine trees.
Keystone Travel soon grew into a full service travel agency with the addition of Peter and Daphne Mayne, recently arrived from England who had worked for a number of years with Thomas Cook Tours in London.
One of the first persons they in turn hired was another young lady who is now one of North Bay’s long time travel agents – Edith Letts.
As Mayne Travel and Letts Travel eventually grew the number of local travel agencies to three, Keystone Travel moved from their original location on Fraser St., to Main St. W. and finally McIntyre St W. where they remained for almost 16 years.
Having worked for almost 30 years at Keystone Travel, Patricia Martin, who still enjoys the travel business and the friends and clients she has helped over the years, is looking forward to keeping in touch with everyone from her new desk at Mayne Travel.
"For the most part, the travel business is a happy business to be in, there are opportunities to travel and I enjoy helping people plan their holidays or adventures depending on what they are looking for,” said Martin.
Nancy McInnis and Joyce Berthin, who has 20 years experience in travel, were also working at Keystone Travel at the time of its closing. They welcome their clients at CAA Travel Agency in North Bay.
All employees of Keystone Travel were saddened by its closure - as were the many long time clients; but after many years in the travel business, the owners opted to retire. The business closure was a friendly closure - not due to hard economic times or the result of the declining dollar.
