Helloworld adds 8 stores, ups financial forecast

By Hannah Edensor

Helloworld Travel has announced it’s signed up eight stores to become fully-branded Helloworld babies, and revealed what they expect to turnover in their financial year updates.

Helloworld has snagged five stores in south-east Queensland, who are converting from Associate membership to fully branded membership, as well as two new stores in Victoria, and one in Western Australia.

Pictured above: the new-look branding for Helloworld Travel in previously updated stores.

These are the first outlets to join the fully branded network since the business gave itself a makeover and changed its brand image to ‘Helloworld Travel – The Travel Professionals’ in May.

It comes just over a month after Executive Director Cinzia Burnes admitted the company has “learnt a lot of lessons”, but that agents will always have the upper hand over OTAs.

The company has been on a roll this year, bulking up its network and signing new agencies.

“It’s great to see our updated branding having immediate traction,” said CEO and Managing Director, Andrew Burnes.

“The interest from both new and existing agencies around Australia shows that the branding and improved value propositions are not only retaining existing franchisees but are attracting new members to our network.”

Helloworld also revealed they expect to achieve full year earnings at the top end of its current guidance, which comes off the back of strong trading conditions in the June quarter.

Helloworld’s revised its guidance on April 7, upping what it expected from its Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) – or the measure of the company’s operating performance.

On April 7 it upped the EBITDA guidance of $47 million to $51 million, to a range of between $52 million and $55 million.

“We’ve seen positive growth in our air ticket sales across the retail and corporate networks in Australia and New Zealand,” Burnes explained.

“Our wholesale and inbound businesses are benefiting from internal synergies and our corporate TMC business is continuing to grow.”

Helloworld Travel has also appointed Peter Prowse as the new Group General Manager, Global Head of Sales.

Prowse comes armed with executive knowledge and experience in sales, business development and product design.

Taking on the new role from Monday July 3, Prowse joins Helloworld Travel with a solid track record in leading client-centric businesses in Australia, Asia, the UK and Europe, and North America.

“Peter is an outstanding acquisition for the group and his skills will help us drive revenue growth across all our businesses globally,” said Burnes.

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