QUARTZ Travel is hoping for a Press Business Awards hat-trick as it prepares for further expansion in its tenth year of trading.

The Heworth-based business, which employs a team of 13 bringing in revenue of £2.7 million, is vying for the Small Business of the Year and Retailer of the Year titles.

Its entries to the 2014 awards follow the business being named Small Business of the Year in 2011, and its owner Paul Smith winning Business Personality of the Year in 2008.

Unusually for a travel agency business it was set up in predominantly residential area in Heworth Road, but after ten years of building up trade, Quartz Travel is preparing to move to new premises in the village to allow for further growth.

With the ethos that "giving clients the best possible service is the only way to succeed" Quartz regularly obtains preallocated seats for its customers on scheduled flights, as well as working to get them room upgrades where possible, and making sure all the checks are in place to ensure those with mobility problems get the assistance they need.

Mr Smith said: "Quartz Travel thinks and breathes travel and has an infectious enthusiasm for the subject, whether it is discussing arrangements with clients or encouraging staff.

"This enthusiasm coupled with the willingness to put in considerable hard work, has won many customers and loyalty of staff.

"There is an excellent team spirit at Quartz Travel as well as a friendly, professional relationship with customers."

As well as a booking service for customers Quartz Travel has a transport fleet of luxury vehicles, originally acquired for airport transfers but now hired our for a variety of trips.

Amongst the other new projects for 2013 was the introduction of a personally escorted holiday to Colombia, which had an excellent response, resulting in twice the number being booked for a similar trip in 2014.

The business also supports a number of local charities, including Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation, Russell Bowerman, St Leonard's Hospice, also the NHS, by offering free airport transfers for their fundraising competitions.