CAR-rental broker Connect Car Rental has reported a 26% increase in bookings, tomore than 75,000, in the year ending December 1999.
Managing director Adrian Duthie attributed the growth to Connect’s strategy of developing a broad base of travel industry partners.
In 1999, it signed preferred partner deals with Monarch Airlines, European Air Express,British World Airlines and ski specialist Ski Cocktail.
“These figures reflect a healthy and growing UK economy and an increasing trend for people to take more trips abroad, particularly short breaks,” said Duthie.
He added that the growth looks set to continue as the number of calls to its Luton-based call centre rose to a record of more than 1,500 a day on five days in the first two weeks ofJanuary.
“January is always a strong month for summer bookings, but this year the level of interest is even greater,” he said.
“And as lead-in times for winter holidays get later and later, we are also experiencing a surge in ski-related bookings.”
n Connect has been chosen as preferredcar-rental supplier for Monarch’s employees. The deal covers its 3,000 staff as well as family and friends.