NEWLYformed Midas Travel has won a ú1.5m account from Portman Travel, in a drive to more than double its turnover in two years.
The London-based agency, which was set up in December, is aiming to increase its turnover from ú3.5m to ú8m in order to become a member of the Guild of Business Travel Agents.
It has taken the account of shipping company James Fisher in Liverpool from Portman and will handle the account from an implant due to open next week.
The implant will initially be manned by two staff but Midas managing director David Thompson said it hoped to expand by using the implant to service other accounts in the area.
“We are running this like a joint venture,” he said. “The James Fisher account is on a management fee so all commissions are passed back to the client. Therefore, it will benefit the client if the implant is used by other companies.”
Midas was looking for like-minded companies in other parts of the country to set up similar operations, he said.
The agency is currently bidding for another large account which, if it is successful, will bring it another ú1m worth of business.
It is already recruiting for more staff at its head office in Poland Street, London, where three directors and two staff are currently based.
The company was set up by Thompson, who was previously managing director of London agency Winge Travel, and David Sullivan and Michael Jenkins, who were partners in Sullivan Jenkins Corporate Travel.
It is targeting accounts of companies in the film and music industry but has clients from a wide spectrum of industries at present.
Midas offers a Gold Service which provides a 24hr a day, seven days a week client helpline.