Protected Trust Services has opened a third office, located in Sunderland, as part of its drive to improve its offering to members.
The consortium, which already has premises in Bournemouth and Fleetwood, recently rebranded as part of a push to increase from 400 to 1,000 members over the next five years.
Up to eight members of the sales and marketing team are based in the Sunderland office, which can also offer hot desk spaces to visiting suppliers.
Members and suppliers are also invited to an opening celebration, which will be held on October 17 at The Yard, Keel Square, Sunderland.
Daniel Landen, chief executive, told delegates at the PTS conference on Thursday: “Having an office in the north means we can really get the message out there about PTS…and having people to talk to, if you have a question. We are here to talk to you.”
He told Travel Weekly: “Our mantra is our members are our customers, we are here to serve them.
“When travel agents join us, they tend not to leave. We understand what it is like to be a travel agent.
“We understand their pain points, so our job is to simplify travel and provide a one-stop shop…for a one-man band or if you want to scale up.”
He said about 40% of members are agents and 60% operators.
“More agents are speaking to us, they see we are fit for purpose,” he said, during the group’s first conference in Warwickshire.
“We want to listen and talk to members.”
Emma Collis, executive director, said the consortium aims to host more events next year, such as supplier dinners, to meet more members.
“The key thing is relationships,” she said.