Travel group celebrates best month ever
ITC Luxury Travel Group had its best trading month ever in January 2017, proving that the luxury travel industry is still buoyant in the face of consumer uncertainty.
Sales peaked in the final week of the month with consumers keen to take advantage of special offers before their end-of-month expiration dates and coinciding with the first post-Christmas pay-day.
Holidays worth £12m were sold during January alone across the group’s travel brands which include ITC Luxury Travel, Western & Oriental, Rainbow Tours, Regent Holidays and Villa Select.
ITC Sports Travel had a particularly successful month, with sales up more than 200% on January 2016, thanks to Ashes tours going on sale for next winter.
For its financial year to date, sales across the ITC Luxury Travel Group are up 11% on the same period in 2016.
All of ITC’s brands sell via the travel trade as well as directly to consumers and an increase in agency sales across all brands has been a key contributor to growth.
Jennifer Atkinson, chief executive, said: “We know that the weather in Britain will always be average, so whilst holidaymakers might consider more carefully where they go or what type of trip they want, they will continue to travel overseas in search of sunshine.
“I’m delighted with our strong start to 2017, but success for me isn’t just measured in increased sales. These figures also indicate that consumers are recognising the benefits of booking their trips with experienced travel professionals. Whether they’re coming to us directly or booking via a travel agent, consumers are once again placing value in the destination expertise, personal service and financial security they receive when booking with a tour operator.”
The Chester-based company, which completed a management buyout in August, backed by NorthEdge Capital, featured in BBC documentary, “The Millionaires Holiday Club”, covering luxury holidays to Barbados, Jamaica and India.
The business employs 200 staff and reported turnover of £80m in the year to April 2016 – up from £43m in 2013. This was aided by the acquisition of Western and Oriental Travel in June 2015, which expanded the core luxury beach offering and developed Group-wide expertise in experiential holidays.
