Home-based travel agent specialists TravelManagers has got off to a flyer in 2019, posting a record-breaking first three months of the year.
TravelManagers chief operating officer Grant Campbell (pictured above) said the result was the culmination of a strong January and best-ever trading month in February, followed by a record March.
“Year on year, we have experienced more than seven per cent growth in our first quarter, thanks in large part to strong sales for long-haul destinations,” he said.
“The destination with the highest percentage growth was Asia, with an increase of more than 17 per cent which, when combined with a seven per cent increase for Africa, contributed to a 70 per cent increase in total adventure travel sales.”
TravelManagers also recorded double-digit growth in both Australia and New Zealand during the first quarter, at 11.5 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.
“We also achieved close to 10 per cent growth in one of our most high-value destinations, Europe,” Campbell added.
“It’s very pleasing to see strong results occurring across all destinations, rather than being confined to just a few.”
Other categories to have recorded strong results in the first quarter for TravelManagers included guided coach tours and customised holiday packages, which have increased by 27 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.
“These categories tend to feature more extensive, detailed itineraries,” Campbell said.
“It’s a great indication that our personal travel managers (PTMs) are continuing to focus on designing holiday experiences that are individually tailored to their clients’ needs.”
Sports-related travel has also increased significantly year-on-year for TravelManagers, and although it represents a relatively small percentage of the company’s total sales volume, Campbell described this achievement as a hallmark of its overall philosophy.
“We have a network of PTMs who among them represent a vast range of interests when it comes to travel, and every area of the company is designed to foster that entrepreneurial spirit so that they can grow their businesses by pursuing those interests,” he said.
In forecasting what lies ahead for TravelManagers in 2019, Campbell pointed to the previous year’s results.
“Every year since TravelManagers began, we have achieved a new record for first quarter sales, which has always served as a strong foundation for the year ahead,” he said.
“Whilst we can expect this year to present its share of challenges along the way, we’re off to a great start and have every reason to expect great things from 2019.”
