Travel Counsellors sees ‘strong’ booking momentum continue in 2024

Homeworking travel specialist Travel Counsellors has reported “strong momentum” in bookings for the first half of 2024, off the back of a ‘record’ annual result for the 2023 financial year.

The Manchester-based firm said that total transaction value (TTV) including both business and leisure travel sales rose by 31 per cent year-on-year to reach £941.6 million for the financial year ending on 31 October 2023.

Travel Counsellors, which operates the Travel Counsellors for Business brand in the corporate market, reported TTV for its corporate division increased to £215 million over this period.

Total revenue was up by 31 per cent year-on-year to £456.6 million, which the company said is in line with the increase in TTV.

In a statement on Thursday (25 July), the company said this booking momentum has continued into 2024, with a 14 per cent increase in TTV in the year’s first half against ‘strong’ year-on-year comparisons.

Travel Counsellors CEO Steve Byrne said: “FY23 was another record year for Travel Counsellors as we delivered significant profitable growth and strategic progress across the business. 

“This positive outcome is once again a firm demonstration of the strength of our differentiated strategy and was underpinned by the record number of customers who trusted Travel Counsellors with their leisure and corporate travel needs.”

Earlier this year, the company launched its first proprietary online booking tool for business travel clients and, following a recent partnership with data specialist Travelogix, also introduced a data and insights tool that caters specifically to its SME clients.

Byrne added: “I am extremely confident that underpinned by continuous investment in developing our proprietary technology we are exceptionally well placed to further build on our significant growth over the coming years.

“We are focused on continuing to disrupt the travel market through superb, personalised service and our scalable, relevant, and differentiated business model.”

The group also reported ‘significant growth’ across its travel counsellor community, with 148 new people joining in H1 2024, representing a 23 per cent year-on-year increase and resulting in a total of more than 2,000 franchisees.

This month, Travel Counsellors for Business also appointed industry veteran Wayne Durkin as its new head of business development to support its corporate growth plans.