Saga PLC is a British company that provides services for customers aged 50 and over. The Company offers organized international vacations, cruises, hotels, flights, and insurance services for interested travelers. It fixes up package holidays and tours across the globe and has claimed up to 2.7 million customers. The headquarters are located in Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom.
The company has grown rapidly over the years. It was founded by Sidney De Haan in 1951 from a hotel in Folkestone, Kent. It started with giving affordable offers on off-peak holidays which was limited to elderly people who were retired.
Growing drastically, the company, around 1960, established tourism in the Algarve, it also added to its number of destinations throughout the whole of the UK. During this period, marketing was less stressful as customers could directly deal with the company without going through travel agents.
To satisfy customers’ needs and cover more destinations, Saga PLC expanded its business by creating more destinations in Spain, Romania, and Yugoslavia. The company achieved another feat, becoming British Rail’s largest passenger customer as they transported travelers to and from their holiday destinations which are now expanded across the country.
Saga Magazine was also launched around 1980 and the company began to offer insurance and financial services to customers. Their first of its kind world cruise set sail at the time too. In the long run, Long-haul holiday rolled in with exciting getaways to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok.
The company recorded a landmark achievement around 1990 as the first cruise ship, Saga Rose, started operating. Around this same period, they now offered the first all-inclusive and extensive holidays in Europe. They also reviewed the minimum age for Sega customers from 60 to 50 which now gives hope to people from 50 years and above.
Welcome to the 20th century! Saga, in collaboration with AA, came together to be under the umbrella of Acromas Holdings, alongside companies including Direct Choice, Metrorail, and Titan Travel. Saga Healthcare also continued to make more progress far and wide, as it developed and made good names across the country.
Fast forward to 2019, the company kept working their fingers to the bone, making new moves, setting and breaking the records. To always satisfy the needs of their lovely customers, added to their cruise ships. This was named Saga Sapphire. With this, the company kept expanding in terms of rapid growth and development.
To improve the quality of life of the people aged 50 and above, in 2014, Sega set up Saga Investment Services, later to be changed to Saga Money which dished out a range of outstanding products and services. Saga also floated on the London Stock Exchange as Saga PLC. Following that, Destinology a luxury tour operator and Bennetts, a market-leading motorbike insurer, became part of the family.
In 2017, Saga relaunches its successful graduate scheme which would help to invest in future talent for the business. This was part of the process of planning for the future so that the company would keep up with the prestigious name that it has been building for several years.
The following year, Saga delivers apprenticeships from entry to degree and masters level across all business areas as this was part of the further investments in talent development. Through this way, more jobs are created for the young ones who have an interest and are ready to work with great enthusiasm which would be the driving force for the rapid development of the company.
The year 2019 was another outstanding year which was accompanied by another landmark achievement. Saga launched its latest luxury cruise ship – The Spirit of Discovery. This is part of making sure customers are prioritized and get the best services from the company. It is also a way of making them feel the nicest experience while traveling.
Sega PLC cruises with modern technology by creating and launching innovations and products which will help both the company and the customers to have access to new experiences. Saga is now prepared to launch another luxury cruise ship – The Spirit of Adventure, adding to the collection of ships owned by the company.
Sega PLC operates through three segments: Insurance, Travel, and Emerging Businesses and Central Costs. The insurance segment consists of general insurance products, such as Motor, Home, Travel, and private medical insurance. The travel segment primarily consists of the operation and delivery of package tours, escorted tours, river cruise, and ocean cruise. The Company claims the ownership of two cruise ships in which it operates. All other holiday products are packaged together with the third party supplied accommodation, flights, and other transport arrangements.
The Emerging Businesses and Central Costs segment consists of the Company’s other businesses and its central cost base. The other businesses of the Company include Saga Personal Finance, a private pay domiciliary care service, the Saga Magazine, and the Company’s internal mailing house.
Sega PLC believes people and culture play a pivotal role in the success of their brand. They bring the Saga Way to life, putting their customers and colleagues at the heart of all they do. Through the cultural process, they encourage people to be challengers as they fight for what is right. whilst delivering exceptional service and products to customers.
Sega PLC undertakes regular engagement surveys to understand how their employees feel about the company. Using feedback, they continually look to develop the way they do things, which includes the introduction of flexible working and providing an on-site nursery, apprenticeships, mentoring schemes and lots more
Sega PLC shares business success with employees by awarding all eligible employees free shares. They continue to embed their reward principles and have kept their pay and benefits competitive and fair. They recently consulted on pension scheme changes and have kept their defined benefit scheme open to new colleagues.
To ensure equality and diversity, Sega PLC supports the Government’s ambition to reduce the gender pay gap across all Saga businesses. As a proud member of the 30% Club, diversity is a key business imperative for their continued success. They strive to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, providing equal opportunities for all.