James Villas is launching a programme exclusively for independent agents, giving them access to its product for the first time in years.
Following its acquisition by the Wyndham Group last year, the previously direct-sell James Villas will offer selected properties through Hoseasons’ Villas4you brand. It will be Atol-bonded, pay commission and offer fam trips.
The new programme will be promoted by the Hoseasons trade sales team alongside the group’s other brands including Cottages4you.
James Villas managing director Malcolm Hoad said a new brochure to be released to independent agents on July 5 would showcase only 220 properties, a fraction of the operator’s range of more than 500 villas in 20 destinations.
“We want it to be a mainly online product. The villas are dead easy to book online,” he said.
Hoad said there would be “complete pricing parity” between Villas4you and James Villas, and the average booking value was around £2,500.
“We soft-launched it over the last couple of weeks with a few key agents and one did a £15,000 Florida villa booking, which earned him loads of commission so there is huge potential to make good money.”
Hoad was keen to stress a “broad spectrum” of villas would be available.
“People seem to think James Villas is really upmarket, but actually the core product is 3.5 to 4.5‑star; James Luxury is our brand for top properties.
“Villas4you will offer the full range, and more than [rivals] Cosmos, Style, Meon etc.
“And the beauty of this is that whatever is successful, we’ll dip into James and pick and choose more to make available to the trade.”
Villas4you was relaunched direct to consumers last year and soft-launched to independent agents in April.