Portugal and Madeira specialist Atlantic Holidays has been revamped by a new management team that is seeking significant growth through independent agents.
The company, which is part of Pestana Group, Portugal’s largest leisure and tourism business, has relocated from Gloucester to Kingston upon Thames, developed a trade website and refreshed its logo.
Managing director Chris Busuttil, who joined Atlantic 16 months ago following spells as head of purchasing at Hotels4U and lastminute.com, has recruited eight staff and has brought in John Riley, ex-Hotels4U and First Choice, as a consultant to drive the expansion.
The operator, which is not producing brochures, is offering fully commissionable, Atol-protected packages, as well as net-rate, room-only product that agents can package up with flights.
Busuttil said: “Since Magic of Portugal, there’s not been a specialist to Portugal and Madeira, until now. We offer mainly four and five-star accommodation from hotels on the beach to luxury farmhouses, and we promise quality and security for agents.”
Busuttil said Atlantic offered agents product that they could not find elsewhere, such as luxury pousadas (historical monuments) and quintas (domestic homes).
Much of the programme comprises Pestana-owned hotels, although other properties feature.
Tui is the biggest seller of UK holidays to Pestana hotels, so the re-emergence of Atlantic will give independents a chance to sell into the group’s properties.
Pestana owns 91 hotels around the world, and plans to expand from 10,000 rooms to 17,000 over the next few years.
Busuttil said Cape Verde and Brazil would be added for 2016.
Martin Morgan, owner of The Travel House, said: “I am sure the trade will get behind Atlantic Holidays as a specialist to Portugal and Madeira. I plan to try one of its pousadas when next in Portugal.”