Idle Travel has become the latest official partner for the League Two football team Bradford City AFC, as the agency reported record sales for each month of 2022.
The Bradford-based travel agency has agreed a one-year contract with the team – nicknamed the Bantams – which will offer branding opportunities inside the University of Bradford Stadium.
Tony Mann, Idle Travel director, said: “We have had the best year ever – by far. Every month has been record-breaking, from January onwards.
“We have had lots of new customers, of all ages; it is amazing.”
He said the agency is looking forward to celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023 and advance bookings for next summer are already strong.
“We have a fantastic team; I kept them during the pandemic, and our service and reputation are very important,” he added.
“We spend thousands and thousands on marketing, with activities such as radio campaigns, and I appear a lot on local BBC radio – I am like a cheap version of Simon Calder!
“We are soaring, and I am very positive. The cost-of-living concerns will not be as bad as the pandemic and we are very resilient in travel.”
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Commenting on the partnership with City, he added: “All the team at Idle Travel are excited about this partnership with Bradford City, and we will be using it to promote our close association with Jet2holidays.
“This is the first time we have partnered with Bradford City, and we know how important the club is to our customers, many of whom arrange their holidays around the fixtures each season.
“With travel back on the agenda for many, Idle Travel have some exciting plans to come for the Bradford City supporters in association with our friends at Jet2holidays. We are looking forward to developing what will hopefully be a successful partnership.”
Unfortunately, the agency staff have not been able to attend Saturday matches yet as Saturdays are very busy for them, but they do hope to watch a midweek game if possible, Mann added.
He said the agency is already seeing fans coming in to book holidays – often wearing the team colours on a Saturday morning – and making sure their trips don’t clash with City fixtures.
Michael Shackleton, City’s commercial manager, added: “This is an exciting relationship which certainly opens different doors for us as a club, and we are looking forward to seeing how far it can go.
“Idle Travel and Jet2holidays are two significant local businesses, which we are proud to be associated with.
“We thank Tony and his team for their support and hard work in helping get this deal over the line, and are excited to see where it can be taken.”
Established in 1983, Idle Travel’s premises is in a shopping complex in Idle, Bradford.
Pictured from left: Jodie Mann, Idle Travel manager; Michael Shackleton, Bradford City commercial manager; and Tony Mann, Idle Travel managing director.