A sales increase of 11% in January over the same month last year has been recorded by AITO Specialist Travel Agents.
The rise comes through the group’s AITO All Stars incentive scheme which rewards agent members for booking AITO holidays.
The survey of AITO agents and 17 participating AITO operators showed the 11% increase in overall sales revenue year on year.
“This small sample of sales is an indication that the independent sector is picking up following increased interest in unbiased advice from AITO Agents,” AITO said.
AITO Specialist Travel Agents chairman Oliver Broad said: “This news is a fantastic start to 2011, demonstrating the success of AITO Agents and the All Stars incentive scheme, both in terms of working through difficult economic times and also strengthening their businesses.
“The sales increase may also be linked to increased customer demand for independent specialist travel agents and operators.”
The AITO All Stars incentive scheme involves an ongoing league table of top booking agents and rewards them with monthly prizes and annual awards. More than 30 AITO operators have signed up for the incentive scheme in 2011.