'Jimmy' award at Torbay Business Awards honours man who inspired the Majestic success story

Each year, the James Wright Inspirational Business Leader Award is presented at the Torbay Business Awards to an individual who has made a difference and stood out as a figurehead in the Bay. The so-called ‘Jimmy Award’ is named in honour of James Wright, a man who personifies what it means to be an inspirational business leader.

“He was a great innovator and always had a smile on his face,” said Mark Wright, James’s son and owner of Majestic Holidays, the business his father started almost 40 years ago.

“His business was in making people happy, and he was very good at it. But even in hard times, he was one of those people who could just get everyone on board and keep them feeling positive about tomorrow.”

Majestic Holidays began out of the spare bedroom of the Wright family in the late 1980s. Right from its inception, Majestic was all about innovating and doing things differently.

James Wright began shaking up the industry with the introduction of ‘Turkey and Tinsel’ breaks.

Mark explained: “My dad owned a theatre in Teignmouth called the Carlton, while his brother owned a hotel in Bournemouth called Majestic. After he went away to get involved with a cruise line in British Columbia, my dad went to manage the Bournemouth hotel for him.

“He soon realised that the hotel was empty for November and most of December, He came up with the idea that he would do a Christmas before Christmas, where you could have all the fun of the holiday season at less than half the price.”

James advertised these new holidays with readers’ offers in the local newspaper to get the word out, and they became a resounding success. People enjoyed the holiday so much that they started asking if James was going to do other holiday packages. Majestic Holidays was born.

After returning from university, Mark Wright began to help his father with the rapidly expanding business. In 1987 they moved out of the spare room and into a small office in Teignmouth, slowly expanding and taking on more staff.

In 1991, Majestic Holidays took on a new dimension after it bought the Templestowe Hotel in Torquay.

Mark said: “We wanted to start bringing people to Torbay, but we couldn’t find the experience we wanted. We thought the only way we could do it was to buy our own hotel.

We got the Templestowe, which takes three coaches, 150 guests and has got the exact kind of atmosphere that we want. It’s hard work, but we run at about 80% occupancy throughout the year, which is one of the highest rates in Torquay.

“Because we do that we can retain and look after staff over many years which creates a tight-knit and friendly atmosphere.”

However, 2020 saw the entire leisure industry turn upside down overnight, as the country was plunged into lockdown. Refunding millions of pounds to customers, the future of Majestic Holidays was unknown.

Then, amid the chaos of the pandemic, Mark tragically lost both his mother and father. However, while Mark was left to continue the business with his wife, the spirit and leadership that both his parents imparted onto the company did not disappear.

“My dad was working right up to Covid,” Mark said, “He was 82 and still going into the office every day.

“He managed to create an atmosphere amongst his staff and volunteers that was just full of energy.”

Although the leisure industry is certainly not out of its turbulent times, Majestic Holidays is recovering. Majestic's latest gamble is to buy a rundown former casino next door to its Templestowe Hotel.

Not only have they already spent £1 million on refurbishing and carrying out essential repairs on the former Genting casino, they have also unveiled pioneering regeneration proposals to make the building and development fit for the 21st century.

Mark says this continued success of Majestic is down to three reasons.

He explained: “I think it’s value, it’s honesty and it’s innovation.

“First, we’ve always tried to give exceptional value. We've never had a high margin on our holidays. Customers know what they’re getting and it’s doubtful anyone will be undercutting us.

“Then, we’re always trying to innovate with the product. Sometimes it’s subtle things such as being the first transport company to ban smoking on our vehicles. Sometimes, it’s a whole new project, such as our ‘turkey and tinsel’ holidays or being the first to go to the Emmerdale or Coronation Street Studios.

“Lastly, we believe in never doing wrong by someone. We try to be as fair as we can to both staff and customers alike. Unwanted unhappiness is not going to do us any good.”

When the Torbay Business Awards started at the end of the pandemic, it was only fitting that an award be named in honour of James Wright and his legacy. Since then, the James Wright Inspirational Business Leader Award, or ‘Jimmy’ Award has sought to highlight the individuals that go above and beyond in their leadership and impact.

The award is sponsored by Majestic Holidays and presented by Mark Wright.

Mark added: “Two years ago, my dad was commended at the awards for outstanding contribution to the Bay, he would have loved to have been there to accept that. Now with this award, I hope we can highlight those people who make a difference in tough times and have the tenacity to keep pushing forward.”