The Advantage Travel Partnership

We are proud to announce our financial results for 2022/23, with the profitability of the business almost doubling year on year, in part due to the success of our Financial Services division.

Our clear vision to rebuild the business after the pandemic has paid off and we now continue to drive our ambition to be a one-stop business hub, operating across multiple sectors, with subject experts at the wheel.

A few outstanding highlights from the report accompanying our accounts include:

🌍 Total global sales turnover across the membership grew to £15.6bn

🇬🇧 £7.6bn represented sales turnover from UK members

💼 £5.7bn from global business travel

🏝️ £1.9bn from the leisure sector

✈️ Net profit before tax £1.181m

Our vision remains steadfast: to build on our strengths while maintaining a focus on expanding our footprint, improving operational efficiencies, and leveraging our network's size. By adopting this approach, we aim to maximize relevant benefits for our members and business partners.

If you are interested in finding out more about how The Advantage Travel Partnership can support the growth of your own travel business, contact us today: 🌐 join.advantagemembers.com

You can read the full press release: 🌐 here: https://www.advantagemembers.com/news-listing/milestone-financial-results-for-2022-23.html

The Advantage Travel Partnership Announces Milestone Financial Results For 2022/23 Advantage Travel Centres Limited (trading as Advantage Travel Partnership) has today announced its year-end financial results for 2022/23.

🥳A huge congratulations to our members who were shortlisted for this year's TTG Travel Industry Awards! The event will take place on 26 September and we hope to see some of you there. For more about the event, click here 👇
https://www.ttgmedia.com/travel-industry-awards

Lisa Kemp, Barrhead Travel Aberdeen
Fraser Davies, Barrhead Travel The Gyle
Emily Watson, Barrhead Travel Isle of Wight
Evie McKay, Barrhead Travel Stirling
Zoe Franklin, Travel Club Elite
Emma Ram, Barrhead Travel Isle of Wight

The Travel Industry Awards by TTG UK travel and tourism industry news, features, jobs, directories, events and awards for travel agencies and consortia, airlines and airports, tour operators, ocean and river cruise lines, luxury and LGBT travel operators, technology companies and travel law professionals.

We are delighted to be working with GB Training & Consulting Ltd 🌟

Join our exclusive Everything DiSC Workplace® sessions taking place on 11 July 2024 and 17 September 2024.

Enhance your sales strategies and customer engagement in the travel industry by understanding diverse communication styles. This programme is ideal for anyone looking to build effective relationships with colleagues and customers. 🤝

Both sessions are delivered remotely via Zoom from 09:30am - 12:30pm.

For more information, click here > https://www.advantagemembers.com/member-area/business-support/training-hub/gb-training.html

There are a limited number of spaces available on each, so please register now by emailing Andy Boorman at [email protected] with your preferred date.

A massive congratulations to all of our members shortlisted for this year's Travel Weekly UK Agent Achievement Awards! 👏👏

Regional Awards - Northern Ireland
Clubworld Travel
Feherty Travel
Oasis Travel
Terra Travel
Thompson Travel International

Scotland – Small Agency
Jimmy Martin Travel
Ramsay World Travel

Scotland – Large Agency
Barrhead Travel

North West England and North Wales – Small Agency
Aspen Travel
Deva Travel
Garstang Travel

North West England and North Wales – Large Agency
Althams Travel
Polka Dot Travel

Yorkshire, North Midlands and North East England – Small Agency
Beverley Travel
Travel Bureau

Yorkshire, North Midlands and North East England – Large Agency
Althams Travel
Dawson & Sanderson
Spear Travels

Central England – Small Agency
arrangeMYescape
Peakes Travel Elite

Central England – Large Agency
Polka Dot Travel
Spear Travels

East of England – Small Agency
Ponders Travel
Sunlounger

East of England – Large Agency
Fred. Olsen Travel Agents

London and South East England – Small Agency
Baldwins Travel
Meon Valley Travel

London and South East England – Large Agency
Fred. Olsen Travel Agents

National Awards
Cruise Agency of the Year – Small Agency
Cruise 365

Cruise Agency of the Year – Large Agency
Cruise.co.uk

Touring and Adventure Agency of the Year
Aspen Travel
Travel Club Elite

Online/Call Centre Agency of the Year
Inspire

Homeworking Agency of the Year – Small Agency
Travelosophers

Individual Awards
Young Leisure Agent of the Year
Jamie Jo Davran, Barrhead Travel
Sian Freestone, Sunlounger
Rosie Richardson, arrangeMYescape

Leisure Agent of the Year
Laura Elliot, Barrhead Travel
Emily Jacobs, Fred Olsen Travel

Leisure Manager of the Year
Courtney Bunton, Sunlounger Travel
Zoe Franklin, Travel Club Elite
Claire Ives, Barrhead Travel
Karen Smith, Dawson & Sanderson
Angela Taylor, Oasis Travel

Agency Support Team Member of the Year
Emma Atkinson, Dawson & Sanderson
Rebecca Harmer, Creative Travel Co.
Gillian Irvine, Barrhead Travel
Kelly Tolerton, Oasis Travel

Business Excellence Awards
One to Watch
Mark Wilson - The Good Travel Agent
The Good Travel Agent
Travelosophers

Sustainability Champion of the Year – Large Agency
Barrhead Travel

People Awards

Best Agency to Work For – Large
Barrhead Travel
Dawson & Sanderson

We will be there to support you all at the glittering awards ceremony in London 11 July!

Full shortlist here 👇https://www.agentachievementawards.co.uk/2024/en/page/shortlist

Yesterday saw our first Advantage Frontliners event of 2024, held in The Midland Manchester. 📍

Our members experienced a day full of helpful tips, tricks and insider info from our in-house specialists and a selection of our supplier partners. 👏

Some of the topics included an introduction to marketing with a focus on social media,📱 a workshop about overcoming objections during a sale 👍 and a specialist cruise session with our amazing sponsors Royal Caribbean International 🚢🌊

Our Frontliner events are running throughout June in London and Belfast as well as plenty in the works during 2024. Get in touch for more info!

The latest issue of Journeys is here, just in time for summer! ☀️

The brand-new issue of Journeys is out now ready to see our members through the summer! Our hero customer-facing magazine is full of inspirational holiday ideas for our members to share and promote to customers!

This edition includes content on reasons to book with a travel agent, a few not-to-be-missed offers, as well as adverts from our partners, all with a consistent value-packed theme throughout. From identifying the best holiday destinations for each month of the year to highlighting the top spots to celebrate Pride, this bumper edition really is packed with insightful content.

To help our members promote the magazine, we have created a variety of eye-catching digital assets including an animated GIF. Visit our member’s portal to download the assets.

Read this issue here👉 https://www.advantagemembers.com/member-area/marketing/content/customer-magazines/journeys-magazine.html

Yesterday marked the kick-off of the CLIA Europe Conference, and what an incredible start it has been! Jonny, Noel, Cat, and Zoe from our team are attending and having a wonderful time meeting members, and supplier partners.

The business sessions featured a range of great speakers who shared invaluable insights into the latest trends and innovations within the cruise industry.

Did you know…
• Expedition cruising is the fastest growing cruise sector with 71% growth since 2019
• 82% of cruisers will cruise again within the next 2 years
• Holidaymakers in UK and Ireland took 2.3 million cruises in 2023

The networking trade fair was equally impressive, providing a vibrant platform for connecting with industry leaders and learning more about exciting cruise products. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces and to make new connections.

We're looking forward to what day 2 has in store! 🚢✨

Last week, we supported Mental Health Awareness week💚. We encouraged our staff to take a half an hour break today and get involved in an activity supporting the ‘moving more for your mental health’ theme. We also got involved with wear it green day and loved seeing our staff show their support. For more information on MHAW, visit the following website 👉
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

🌳🌱Sustainability Q&A with Ashley Quint 🌱🌳

In our latest edition of Insight, our members magazine, we spoke to Ashley Quint, Director & Chief Travel Maestro at TravelTime World, who sits on our member ESG steering group, to hear about the steps he's taking at TravelTime World to support the area of ESG, how he stays informed on emerging sustainability trends and why he thinks this should be an important focus for the travel sector right now.

At Advantage, we know that sustainability is a key area for many of our members and so, this year, we've set up an ESG member steering group to create a community where members can learn from one another and discuss tools and tactics to help member businesses start on their sustainability journey.

You can read Ashely’s Q&A below! 👇
https://www.advantagemembers.com/about-us/blog/sustainability-small-business-impact.html

And members, be sure to check out our latest edition of Insight here! 👇
https://www.advantagemembers.com/member-area/products-services/insight.html

We are pleased to welcome our newest member to join Advantage, Travel Den. Owned by the lovely Gilli Knight, Travel Den is based in Dorset and is excited to join The Advantage Travel Partnership operating under our Advantage Managed Services (AMS) scheme. We wish the ⭐best of luck⭐ to Gilli and Travel Den in its next chapter here.

🎉 The excitement is building! Just TWO WEEKS until The Advantage Conference 2024 kicks off in sunny Mexico! Get ready to dive into a world of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration as we gather to elevate your business journeys together.

Join us as we connect with industry leaders, gain invaluable insights, and forge lasting connections in the breathtaking backdrop of Cancun. Can't make it in person? Don't worry! We'll be live tweeting throughout the event so everyone can stay up to date with the latest happenings and insights.

📅 May 15 - 17, 2024

Our full speaker lineup is now live – view all here > https://advantageconference.co.uk/speakers/

We can't wait to see everyone there as we embark on an unforgettable experience! 🌟

🌟 Exciting Announcement! We're thrilled to reveal our latest keynote speaker for our upcoming flagship event at the luxurious Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa!

Joining us onstage will be Lauri Reishus, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC). Lauri brings with her a wealth of expertise and a passion for connecting stakeholders across the travel ecosystem. At ARC, she leads the charge in providing data insights, flexible distribution services, and cutting-edge financial solutions, positioning ARC as a true industry leader.

Get ready to be inspired by Lauri's insights as she shares her vision for the future of global air travel!

We want to wish the best of luck to our members shortlisted at the TTG Top 50 Awards in Manchester tonight, the Advantage team will be there tonight and we are rooting for you all!⭐️

⭐🎉Happy 60th Anniversary, Border Travel!🎉⭐

One of our Scottish members Border Travel has hit a big milestone, celebrating 60 years in business this year, and we want to wish them a Happy 60th Anniversary!

In our latest edition of Insight, our members magazine, we spoke with Retail Manager, Gary Jardine, Retail Manager to discuss its greatest achievements and how it has remained successful after 60 years.

We have also shared the interview on our blog page here!👇
https://www.advantagemembers.com/about-us/blog/happy-60th-anniversary-border-travel.html

And members, be sure to check out the full article in our latest issue of Insight here! 👇
https://www.advantagemembers.com/member-area/products-services/insight.html

Border Travel
Sarah Louise Miller

⚓ We’re delighted to announce the launch of our 2024/2025 The Cruise Collection, a comprehensive 36-page guide created for our members which breaks down the cruise lines by ocean, river and expedition allowing them to navigate the vast ocean of cruising options with ease, learn about the unique features of each cruise line, and make informed recommendations to your customers. Printed for the first time, the guide showcases 25 of the world’s most celebrated cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Oceania Cruises and AMAWaterways in an inspirational magazine-style format to help consumers discover each cruise line’s distinct style and USP.

Jonny Peat, our Senior Commercial Manager said: “We are confident that our members will use our guide as a tool to inspire and introduce cruise as an option, particularly to those who have never sailed before. This is our biggest-ever version which is a testament to how important the cruise sector is to us.”

A big thank you to all of our wonderful partners who participated in this guide!

View The Cruise Collection here > https://view.publitas.com/advantage-travel-partnership/cruisecollection2024-25/page/1

🎉 Only ONE MONTH left until The Advantage Conference 2024! Last week we announced our Giving Back Experiences, and the response has been phenomenal! 🌍 Join us on Friday 17 May for an afternoon dedicated to positively impacting local communities and the environment. However, act fast, as the demand is high, and spaces are filling up quickly! Chose from 4 experiences:

🏖️Beach Clean: Partnering with Intrepid, we'll clean up a local beach, addressing ocean pollution and supporting marine conservation efforts. Already at 50% capacity!

🎉Smiley Piñata: Have fun while making a difference! Work in teams to craft traditional Mexican piñatas filled with surprises for local children's charities. Also at 50% capacity!

🌱 Ecobricks: Turn waste into something sustainable! Make Ecobricks from non-recyclable materials to use in local community construction projects.

♿ Wheelchair Building: Join forces to build wheelchairs for those in need, providing mobility and support to local community members.

Spaces are limited, so don't miss out on this chance to give back! Select your chosen activity and register now > https://advantageconference.co.uk/giving-back-experiences/

Big congratulations to our award winning members who won Best Agent for Scotland - Barrhead Travel and Best Agent for North West - Althams Travel at the CPH Festival in Turkey last week! 🥳 We’re always so pleased when our travel agent members get the recognition they deserve 👏🏼

Last night we hosted a member engagement event in London with a difference - an interactive darts tournament 🎯

A massive thank you to all of our supplier partners who came along to support the event and to our wonderful members who joined us for some fun on the Strand! Stay tuned for more member networking events coming very soon!

Advantage's Business Development Manager Gemma Sparrow attended The CLIA Europe Riverview Conference 2024 in Amsterdam last week and had the opportunity to visit 11 river cruise ships in 48 hours! 🚢

River cruise continues to be a rapidly growing sector within the cruise industry – and so we see lots of opportunity there for our members. Gemma reports back on the trends, insights and learnings she took from the trip and shares some top tips for selling river cruise.

Read Gemma's blog 👉 https://bit.ly/4a5nuMa

Sarah Louise Miller Jonny Peat

Meet our Business Development Team! Starting us off is Sarah Miller, whose decade-long tenure with Advantage coupled with her passion for the industry ensures our members receive top-tier service and expertise. When you join Advantage our stellar business development team is on hand to offer support to your business!

Want to find out more? Visit join.advantagemembers.com

🫶 Celebrating female speakers at the Advantage Conference 2024 🫶 Joining our main stage in Mexico are two high-profile speakers, Natalie Campbell and Lisa Minot.

🌊 Award-winner Natalie is the co-CEO of Belu Water, an ethical water brand. She is also currently running as an independent candidate for the position of Mayor of London.

📰 Lisa Minot has been an award-winning travel journalist for more than 25 years. As Head of Travel at The Sun, Lisa oversees all print and digital content. Lisa has worked for The Sun for 32 years and is a regular travel expert on national TV and radio stations.

These are just two of our announced keynote speakers, click here to find out more > advantageconference.co.uk/speakers

This 🫶🏻International Women's Day🫶🏻, we asked each member of our senior team to share one piece of advice with us that you would give younger staff entering the industry.

🎉🩷Happy International Women's Day!🩷🎉 This years theme is all about embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Let's create a world where every voice is heard and every woman is celebrated! Here's a snapshot of our amazing staff and some of their little ones showing their support with hand hearts🫶🏼!

⭐Welcome to the Advantage family – Holiday Dreams! ⭐

Holiday Dreams will be operating under our Advantage Managed Services (AMS) scheme.

We wish the team good luck today for their grand opening in Spalding, Lincolnshire! Our own Gemma Sparrow will be there ready to show you some Advantage support! Discover more about Holiday Dreams and its co-owners, Joanne Devaney and Laura Rodrigues, in Linc Online's newest article 👇

https://www.lincsonline.co.uk/spalding/news/passionate-travel-agents-open-new-store-9355936/

Gemma Sparrow
https://www.facebook.com/holiday.dreams.2024