SPL Villas has expanded its trade support team after confirming distribution deals with Hays Travel and Travel Network Group homeworking arm Independent Travel Experts.
They join existing partnerships with Travel Counsellors, Advantage, Barrhead Travel and PTS already in place with the villa specialist, which secured Atol certification in late 2023.
The agreements mean SPL Villas’ portfolio of more than 1,500 properties 100 destinations are available for agents across Hays’ network of nearly 700 shops and 500 homeworkers to book, as well as ITE’s almost 100 homeworkers.
Mike Lee joins Anne Clays and Sarah Gill (pictured) in the SPL trade sales team as trade and business support manager for the south of England, bringing 20 years industry experience to the company.
SPL Villas has also expanded its product team with the appointment of new product manager Katie Strange, who has specialised in the villa sector for more than seven years.
Managing director Edward Frampton-Fell said: “We’ve significantly grown our trade distribution capacity in recent months, and are happy to welcome Hays and ITE agents to those with whom we’re already working.
“Agents accounted for around a third of the bookings we took last year but we want to grow that number in 2024 and we’re confident that those from Hays and ITE will be excited by the value, quality, and variety of our villas, as well as the reassurance offered by our Atol and Abtot membership.
“We’re pleased to welcome someone with Mike’s expertise to our hard working trade sales team for what should be a busy year of growth.”
He added: “We’ll be growing our portfolio by around 15% in the coming months, with ambitions to add further during 2024.
“It’s great to welcome Katie to the team to spearhead that effort and ensure SPL is offering both our agent and direct customers the widest range of premium and luxury villas possible.”