The majority of the UK’s travel agents got a pay rise last year, while a quarter enjoyed an above-inflation increase of more than 5%, according to a recent survey.
Research by Barclaycard Business found that 61% of travel industry retailers awarded staff with a pay rise during 2006. Meanwhile, 25% of agents received a pay rise of more than 5%.
The Retail in Detail survey claimed the travel sector is set to experience strong grow this year, due to a recruitment frenzy. Almost one third – 32% of travel retailers – increased their head count last year, compared to 18% of the overall retail sector.
Nearly half of travel agents offered staff benefits, and 72% of those gave cash bonuses, according to the survey of 1,000 retailers.
Bill Thomson, commercial director of Barclaycard Business, said: “It is really positive to see such high levels of remuneration, suggesting that the market remains buoyant. The travel sector has evidently undergone a period of growth in employee salaries and numbers over the past 12 months.”