Escorted tours company Page & Moy Travel Group has claimed a record rise in peak season bookings through the trade of more than 50%.
The Page & Moy brand achieved 35% growth over last year for the January 1-February 4 booking period. Just You, the group’s brand for single travellers, achieved a 130% increase for the same period.
Travelsphere, which started selling through the trade in September, has also received an “impressive number” of bookings through the trade. Although no base figures were disclosed, the group said overall sales for the three brands increased by 174% year on year.
One of the most popular tours booked through the trade is Page & Moy’s India – Tigers and the Taj tour which is featured in its Wildlife & Culture Collection brochure.
Head of sales Colin Wilson said the increase in figures highlighted a continued commitment to the trade. “Earlier this year we launched a TV advertising campaign which carried a very strong trade call to action, driving customers into their local travel agents to book their holiday and last year we recruited a full-time sales executive, Julie Franklin, to be on the road to visit agents and provide on-hand training sessions,” he said.
“These two factors amongst other key trade activity we have organised over the last year have all contributed to the increase in trade sales and we hope our relationship with the trade will continue to strengthen along with the growth in sales.”