JOANNE Umpleby began booking holidays for Selby families nearly 20 years ago.

She has seen tastes change from a bucket-and-spade beach holiday on the Costa Brava to cruising off Alaska, jetting to Borneo and getting married in the Caribbean.

She has seen computer technology speed up from the time when a phone call to a tour operator could take three days to get through.

Now, Joanne, manager of Leeds Co-op Travel's Selby operation, is about to see a new generation of technology change the face of their Market Place branch. From Monday, it will be business as normal during a three-week refurbishment programme which will include wall-mounted LCD screens showing holiday resort video footage and exclusive offers on a networked message screen.

"The next 12 months will see a total transformation," said Joanne, whose 18-year travel career began with Woodcock Travel in Selby.

During the branch refurbishment Joanne and her colleagues are to do voluntary work at the Sue Ryder Charity Shop next door.

Updated: 11:20 Wednesday, November 24, 2004