Luxury solo adventure travel company Flash Pack has revealed plans to sell through travel agents for the first time.
The London-based start-up, which specialises in small group trips for people in their 30s and 40s, has brought out a trade partner scheme with a view to working with UK, US and Australian agents in particular.
Agents will have access to a Flash Pack travel consultant to work with on client queries and receive early updates on new product launches and promotions in its monthly travel agent newsletter, which goes to 150,000 subscribers. It is offering agents a 12% commission rate.
It comes as the operator announces its aim to double the number of destinations it offers in the next 12 months.
Head of sales Ike Offor said: “Flash Pack has always been a direct-to-consumer brand so our new travel agent scheme represents a significant shift – for the first time, we’ll be looking to partner with other sole traders and small businesses in the industry.”
He said the move was linked to the company’s ambitious expansion plans.
“We believe that, with travel set to bounce back in a huge way into 2024, the timing is right for this evolution. We want to be ready for the spike ahead and we’re confident that we can draw on the talent of agents around the world, who believe in our vision of people-powered adventures, to help meet our ambitious growth targets,” he said, adding: “We’re particularly interested in working with US, UK and Australian-based partners who can support our mission to find the right people to travel with us.”
Offor added that the move to work with agents was part of a long-term vision.
“We’re all about bringing people together, and our new travel agent partnership is designed to expand that mindset. We want to create the groundwork for lasting agent relationships, with ongoing support and the ability to tap into our reputation for excellence,” he said.
Flash Pack offers what it describes as “standout” experiences such as sleeping in a converted Land Rover suite in the Serengeti, dining with Sumos in Japan or staying on a private Arctic island in Finland, with guides, called Pack Leaders.
The company was brought out of administration in a pre-pack deal by its founders after it failed in 2020,
Since a relaunch in November 2021 the company has reported strong growth, with sales now above pre-Covid levels. It has 55 employees in 10 countries, a 4.8 TrustPilot rating and an NPS score of more than 70.