Homeworking agency InteleTravel says it is set to make “close to” half a billion dollars in sales for 2022, making it a record year for the international group.
James Ferrara, co-founder and president, told delegates at the start of the InteleTravel UK conference in Belfast that the previous record year had been 2021.
He hailed the performance of the UK agents, saying they were “driving” the sales success, with notable growth in group bookings – and more consumers recognising the benefits of having a personal relationship with an agent rather than buying online.
Headquartered in Florida, InteleTravel has a network of more than 70,000 independent home-based agents in the US, UK, Mexico and Caribbean. More than 11,500 agents are in the UK.
About 270 agents are attending the UK event, called InteleTravel Quest (September 29-October 1), with a trade show and conference taking place in the city’s Assembly Buildings. In total, 350 delegates are expected to attend.
Delegates will also hear from Joe Traina, who co-founded the agency in 1991, and UK director Tricia Handley-Hughes.
Hosted and sponsored by Tourism Ireland, it has the theme of ‘Beyond the boundaries’.
It will also include a reception at the Games of Thrones studio tour and a gala dinner at Belfast City Hall.
Virgin Voyages is the headline sponsor of the event.