Adventure travel specialist Active Travel Group has claimed a record year of growth across its three brands and the creation of a new sustainability role.
The company reported full year booked revenues of £42 million, up 47% on the previous year and 38% compared to pre-Covid.
Sales across all categories, walking, cycling and ski are “trending materially above expectation” and showing strong forward momentum through the summer and into winter 2023-24.
The summer focussed Wilderness Group and Cycling for Softies brands are more than 80% sold for the forthcoming season, and early Ski Solutions bookings are 57% ahead of this time last year.
In senior management changes, Wilderness Group founder Paul Easto moves to the newly-created role of chief sustainability officer for the Active Travel Group (ATG).
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Stevie Christie moves to become managing director of Wilderness Scotland from Easto, who set up the business 20 years ago.
The Wilderness Ireland and Wilderness England businesses will continue to be led by managing sirectors Patricia Doe and Matt Loveland respectively.
Ian McIlrath, who has led the group finance function since 2018, becomes managing director of the Ski Solutions brand. He will retain group financial oversight, with Matthew Ansell stepping up as group finance director.
Group chief executive Craig Burton will continue to take oversight of all brands, with a focus on developing a number of “significant growth opportunities”, both organic and through mergers and acquisitions.
Burton said: “Healthy, outdoors focused adventure and activity travel is our passion at ATG.
“As we predicted this time last year, our collection of premium active and adventure holidays on foot, on bike and on snow have resonated more than ever with consumers in the post-pandemic landscape.
“Unprecedented forward booking momentum strongly suggests this trend will continue to rise as we look ahead to 2024 and beyond.”
Easto added: “While I will continue to work closely with the Wilderness team, I am excited by the opportunity to lead the development of the Active Travel Group’s sustainability and ESG strategy.
“From our focus on carbon reduction to industry leading employee satisfaction, we have been making solid progress and have ambitious plans to deepen our sustainability commitments across the group.
“Supported by a robust post-pandemic recovery and ambitious growth plans, we have a real opportunity to drive further change and set industry leading standards for ESG performance.”
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