Intrepid Travel has hailed the trade after recording a leap in agency sales following the announcement of the end of its four-year partnership with Tui Group.
The adventure-travel operator cited differences in business philosophy and strategy when the split was announced last month, and pledged to build stronger ties with the trade following the move.
Co-founder and chief executive Darrell Wade said the immediate reaction had been very positive, with UK trade sales up 32% year-on-year in the last two weeks of July.
Wade said: “There may be a number of reasons for this performance, but we are certainly hearing from a lot more independent agents who are keen to investigate ways of working with us (since the split was announced).
“We have made a real commitment to growing our trade business and supporting travel agents, whether that is through straight commission or more collaborative marketing agreements.”
The main growth in trade sales in July was for central and South America, which saw 32% and 90% increases respectively, and in South Asia excluding Nepal, with sales 60% up year on year.
An announcement is expected this week on the future of adventure travel to Mount Everest, after the Annapurna region was given the all-clear last week.
Intrepid is donating all profits from the upcoming season in Nepal to support charities as part of the initiative to return tourism to the country following the devastating earthquake which struck in April.