Bed bank youtravel.com is close to securing a new trade distribution deal. Sales and marketing director Paul Riches said the company, which carried 250,000 passengers in its first year, is “two or three” accounts away from securing 95% of the deals it wants in place.
The news comes as the company said it had ditched 42 properties for not meeting quality standards as it targets more exclusive and upmarket product – more than 85% of its hotels are four and five star.
Riches said: “We’re about 80% of the way in terms of our trade distribution. I am talking to people and hope to sign one of them before Christmas.” He would not reveal which retailers were involved in talks.
The group does not have a direct deal with consortia Worldchoice or Advantage but works with individual members. The business expects to hit its first-year turnover target of £40 million and predicts this will rise to £120 million in three years.