Midcounties Co-operative Travel achieved a record 12 months for sales and profit in 2017-18.
Chief operating officer Rad Sofronijevic (pictured right) told Personal Travel Agents at Co-operative Travel’s annual conference: “We’re delighted with the performance of our homeworking division in the last year.
“Sales are up 10% year-on-year, profit is up 12% and we’re proud to have an established network of 160 highly motivated and experienced homeworkers, as we celebrate our sixth year.”
Touching on a wider strategy for Midcounties Co-operative Travel, Sofronijevic told the 100 homeworker delegates at the event in Majorca: “We will continue to develop our co-operative difference, locally and across the world, setting us apart from the rest.”
Sheena Whittle, head of The Personal Travel Agents at Co-operative Travel, said: “We’ve had a very strong year and we are delighted that 25% of our homeworkers have earned more by benefiting from the new ‘commission builder’ scheme launched last year giving all agents the opportunity to increase their core 60% commission earnings up to 75%.”
She added: “We’re especially pleased with the boost in sales generated by the social media activity of our Personal Travel Agents, which has jumped by 45% year-on-year.
Personal Travel Agents: Louise Harte; Lyndsey West; Lindsay Radcliffe; Leeann Englestown.
“Referrals are still strong, up by an encouraging 18% year-on-year, and sales via networking have risen by an impressive 36%.
“Bookings from repeat customers remains the number one sales generator, accounting for more than half of overall sales in the last year.
“This reinforces our strategy to grow our Personal Travel Agent numbers steadily, recruiting only the highest quality agents out there. It also proves how important the personal touch really is in this business.”
Alistair Rowland, group general manager for specialist retail at Midcounties Co-operative Travel, said: “The Personal Travel Agents are a crucial contributor to the success of Co-operative Travel, which has a pivotal role in the success of our Co-operative as a whole, and this conference has been a great chance to get this message to our homeworkers.
“Their individually-owned businesses are part of a much bigger family, and we appreciate the energy, passion and creativity our homeworkers demonstrate. I have no doubt the excellent results will continue for all.”
Top performing agents were presented with awards at the conference, including:
• Sara Wakelam, Homeworker of the Year
• Paul Arthurs, New Homeworker of the Year
• Stella Sharples, Top Profit of the Year
• Joanne Saunders, Special Achievement Awards
Two newly elected members to the firm’s homeworker board – Ros Small and Hayley Owen – join existing members Sam Fallon, Nicola O’Keefe and Jan Buchan.
Joanne Saunders was named as the top Thomas Cook seller.