Mercian Travel Centre reports hike in sales

WEST Hagley-based travel business Mercian Travel Centre has seen corporate sales increase markedly in the 12 months since being bought out by a Yorkshire company.

The business recorded a 36 per cent increase in revenue from corporate travel, up from £1.1m in the 12 months to January 2011 to £1.5m in the same period last year, after being acquired by Hull family firm Good Travel Management.

Other areas of the company, including retail holidays and bridge and bowling tours remained steady, producing a total turnover of £4m across the business.

The firm’s business development manager Abi Hyslop said the extra sales had come from investing significant resources in business development and joining UNIGLOBE Travel International – the world’s largest single brand travel franchise company.

Being part of UNIGLOBE has given Mercian Travel Centre access to lower fairs across 65 airlines, as well as 24 hour emergency assistance for passengers.

Hyslop said: “We have increased the number of staff in our corporate travel department from one to four since January 2011, taking on two experienced travel consultants and a trainee. This has had a significant effect on the business and has led to new accounts with packaging and creative services firm AGI Print Packaging and aerospace engineers Bromford Industries.

“Joining UNIGLOBE has enabled us to offer greater value to our existing clients and as a result, some decided to increase their spend with us. These two initiatives are what have allowed us to drive the business forward over the past year.”

Good Travel Management acquired Mercian Travel Centre in February last year from former owners and founders John and Mary Downing.

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