NEWS ROUND-UP IN THE PICTURE: Mini is mine!
Thomson agent Charmione Lloyd picks up the keys to the Mini Cooper D she won from Holiday Extras at this year’s Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards. Charmione came the closest to completing a giant
jigsaw puzzle of the add-on specialist’s logo at the London event after submitting one of the best guesses for the number of plastic balls pictured inside the car. Charmione, who works at Thomson’s store in Heswall,
Merseyside, said: “I still can’t believe it. I feel really special in the Mini; it’s an upgrade from my old Fiat, which was a bit of a bean can.” Charmione (centre) is pictured with Holiday Extras’
partnership development manager for the north, Leanne Murfin (left), and national partnerships manager, Lindsay Garvey-Jones.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Marketing specialist 3For recruits Clayton-Turner
Sarah Clayton-Turner has joined travel sales and marketing support specialist 3For to lead its client relationships and develop business in the south. Clayton- Turner chairs the Association of Women Travel Executives.
Cosmos and Avalon to join Tipto next month
Cosmos and sister brand Avalon Waterways will join trade association Tipto next month. Tipto promotes independent operators to agents through product training and offers.
Colletts Travel wins Virtuoso award for a second time
Colletts Travel has been named top producer for the EMEA region within the Virtuoso international luxury travel agency network for a second year. The London-based agency was bought by US firm Travel Leaders Group this year.
Aspire editor Brader in the running for an AWTE award
Travel Weekly Group’s Hollie-Rae Brader, editor of luxury title Aspire, has been shortlisted for the business impact accolade in the Association of Women Travel Executives Chair Awards.
ITC ‘in talks to buy’ as it eyes ski and villa sectors
Phil Davies
phil.davies@travelweekly.co.uk
Inspiring Travel Company (ITC) is reported to be in talks to buy two rivals as part of expansion plans following a rise in profits.
The Cheshire-based operator, which last year featured in
the BBC2 documentary The Millionaires’ Holiday Club, is seeking to take advantage of growing demand among affluent travellers for luxury bespoke trips. ITC’s revenues grew by 13% to £92 million in the year to April, with profits of £4.3 million, up from £3.9 million. ITC chief executive Jennifer
Atkinson said the unnamed acquisition targets were part of a planned expansion, with sights set on the ski and villas sectors. “Much of the growth has been
down to the hard work of our travel specialists, who have the passion and enthusiasm to make sure that every client’s holiday is the best it can be,” she said. Private equity firm NorthEdge
8
travelweekly.co.uk 31 August 2017
SCREEN TIME: ITC gained a lot of publicity as the subject of BBC’s The Millionaires’ Holiday Club
Capital acquired a majority stake in ITC a year ago. Atkinson said: “Partnering
with NorthEdge has enabled us to remain focused on our core business of providing luxury holidays. “Its ongoing support will be
invaluable as we look to identify further strategic acquisitions and explore new markets including ski holidays and luxury villas. I am confident that the year ahead will be just as strong.” The business, which employs
65 travel specialists, completed 12,000 bookings in the last
financial year. It also operates several sister brands including Western & Oriental, Rainbow Tours, Villa Select, Regent Holidays, ITC Sports Travel and Horse Racing Abroad. Phil Frame, investment director
at NorthEdge Capital and non- executive director at ITC, said: “The business has performed well despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit and poor exchange rates, so we look forward to strengthening the offer even further as market conditions become more favourable.” ITC customers spend an average of £15,000 per holiday.
COMMENT: “Asking customers to pay directly into our bank account has to be the way to go” Miles Morgan, page 28
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