One of the UK’s largest independent travel agents has almost doubled its hotel product as it reveals plans to double the size of its business.
Advantage member Affinion International Travel, which has a customer database of one million within closed user groups, has added 35,000 hotels and apartments to its product range having struck a deal with hotel booking system Travelcube.
The deal brings the number of properties offered as accommodation-only on the agent’s website to 80,000, ranging from hotels to holiday parks, motor homes, villas and cottages.
The leisure travel agency, which was sold by RCI to financial services group Affinion International in November 2008, works with financial institutions including banks to offer travel as part of a raft of financial benefits to customers and employees. It currently employs 90 agents in a call centre in Kettering.
Commercial and product director Mark Mitchell said: “We are effectively doubling our accommodation content which improves what we can offer to clients.”
Mitchell said boosting the agency’s product range forms part of a bid to significantly expand the business. “Within 18 months we will be looking to double our business in terms of turnover. Travel will become a much more important part of Affinion International,” he added.
The company has already undergone a restrucutre, which has involved the creation of a six-strong travel product team in Kettering. Previously the company had only one product team in its Slough head office working across its different products, including travel.