Following on from a record-breaking January – Travel Counsellors, the UK’s largest and fast-growing technology platform for travel entrepreneurs – has announced it has smashed records for February. Recording its best ever February, reaching £86.3m (approx. USD 103.96 m) in global sales and £67.9m (approx. USD 81.79 m) in UK sales, both up by 22 per cent from February 2022 figures. Taking overall sales figures for the year to date (from November 2022, start of Travel Counsellors financial year) to £323.6m (approx. 389.80 USD m).
In January and February alone, global holiday sales reached over £200m, with passenger numbers up by 43 per cent this year to date, compared with last year and 21 per cent higher than in 2019. Its UK Leisure (£50.6m) and Corporate (£17.3m) businesses are performing 72 per cent and 56 per cent better than pre-pandemic levels respectively, showing Brits are not given up on their 2023 travels and are attracted to the personal service and reassurance of booking with a trusted travel advisor.
More so, the company is reporting the continued growth in bookings via its own in-house platform Phenix, with sales up by more than 40% this year compared to pre-pandemic levels, enabling Travel Counsellor business owners to tailor-make and package itineraries for their customers, ultimately delivering an enhanced customer experience whilst having more control of the booking. Travel Counsellors in the leisure sector are attracting new customers 30 per cent faster than in 2022 and 2019 levels, with 122 TCs celebrating their biggest ever month in terms of sales for February. When booking a holiday customers are also enquiring about trips with a higher booking value, up by 13 per cent on 2022 figures for the year to date.
CEO, Steve Byrne, comments: “We are thrilled to see the continued demand from customers and clients for travel after such a busy January, and notably the growth in our own packages in Phenix as customers look for truly personalised and tailor-made experiences, with 75% of our sales in the premium leisure market. This reflects that customers are really valuing the added reassurance that their Travel Counsellor is there for them, has complete control of the booking and that they are fully financially protected.
“Our continued growth is testament to the amazing dedication and hard work of our Travel Counsellors and colleague community who are passionate about what they do. We will continue to focus on enhancing and building on the platform of support, technology, and tools to enable our business owners to operate their businesses and lifestyles in a way that suits them, whilst providing the most personal service to their customers, and enabling them to celebrate even more success in 2023.”
Whilst summer remains the main departure period, Travel Counsellors has reported a shift towards Winter 23/24 which is performing +90% ahead of the same point in 2019, representing consuming confidence in booking further ahead. Southeast Asia is also proving a popular destination for customers, with bucket list and multi-generational family group trips still a high priority.
Last year Travel Counsellors recorded a record-breaking year taking in over £800m (approx. USD963.68 m) in sales and welcoming over 150 new franchisees globally with the company trading 65% up on pre-pandemic levels in Q1 of its new financial year (1st November 2022 – 31st January 2023). This year the company will be investing £10m into its bespoke technology, attracting more talented professionals to build their own businesses using the company’s personal, digital platform and refreshing its brand.
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