FIRST
Choice has seen pre-tax profits leap 20% this year to £87.1 million.
The
group reported improvements across all its operating divisions, with the UK
mainstream business making £37 million (up from £32 million); UK specialist
£19.6 (£19.1m) and European specialists £24.5m (£20.2m). In Canada losses were
trimmed to £700,000 (from a £7m loss).
Going
forward, chief executive Peter Long said the company would concentrate on the
growth potential of the soft adventure market.
Meanwhile, he claimed operators would eventually have
to launch third-edition brochures after Christmas as customers were reverting
to the traditional picture of booking summer holidays in the new year.