HE'S a travel agent who keeps moving. Destination: upwards.

The fortunes of Paul Smith's Quartz Travel, in Heworth Road, York, has been nothing short of meteoric in the two-and-a-half years since it was launched.

Through sheer hard work, the turnover of Paul's venture increased last year by 93.9 per cent and is on target to achieve 14.6 per cent growth on that this year.

And the business, which has expanded into premises next door, now employs 12 people, all of whom are rooting for him as Business Personality Of The Year and for Quartz Travel to win the Tourism And Hospitality Business Of The Year in The Press Business Of The Year Awards 2007.

Behind the boom lies Paul's careful judgement, understanding of customer care, knowledge of the leisure industry, and a deft entrepreneurial and news sense.

For instance, he made the far-sighted decision to register five internet domain names the day after London's successful Olympic bid was announced to ensure that he could cater for people seeking accommodation in the capital during the big event in 2012.

He may have finally acceded to the Olympic organisers, whose lawyers insisted he handed over brand names, but the publicity did him no harm.

Paul studied catering at York College, worked in hotel chains and travel agents, for British Airways and later for a luxury cruise operator in Monaco. But he returned home to start his own travel agency. Now Quartz Travel has expanded into four sections:

* Quartz Travel caters for travel and accommodation, as well as organising bespoke holidays* Quartz Chauffeurs offers an airport shuttle service and hire for chauffeur-driven transport* Quartz Properties helps clients buy properties abroad* Quartz Tours, organises tours to popular events and destinations.