Jet2holidays’ commitment to the trade was outlined at its first overseas conference in Palma this week.
The conference – which was given the tagline ‘Partnership2Success’ – was the brainchild of chief executive Steve Heapy, who wanted to hold a dedicated event for independent travel agents.
Heapy said the number of passengers Jet2holidays carries has grown from 1 million in 2014/15 to more than 1.2 million in 2015/16 (forecasted).
A total of 34% of those passengers were booked through travel agents.
Heapy said: “There is no hidden agenda over our work with the trade.
“More than a third of our business is with travel agents and it always has been. If anything we are trying to increase that.”
Among the priorities for the tour operator in the coming year are the growth of its trade support teams and an increased investment in joint marketing.
Marketing spend will increase from £35 million to £40 million next year, while the number of reps in resort will be grown from 170 to more than 250.
“No other tour operator is doing that,” said Heapy.
Heapy also said the operator’s commitment to not cutting commission this year or next year remains and that it will keep its £60 deposit policy “for as long as possible”.