Not Just Travel has reported sales in January were up 82% on the same month last year despite anticipating bookings would be hit by consumer concerns over Brexit.
The homeworking agency had feared that Brexit would result in a decline in bookings to Europe but that the latest figures had “blown these concerns completely out of the water”.
Co-founder Steve Witt said sales in the last week of January had been particularly strong and “beaten all expectations”.
Holiday sales during January to Spain were up 80% for the agency, one of the largest members of Hays Travel Independence Group; South America sales were up 126%; Sri Lanka 150% up; and Turkey holiday bookings rose 148%.
Not Just Travel also revealed it saw a 236% increase in TUI bookings for January, a 150% increase in bookings with Beachcomber, while sales of JTA were up by 128% for the month.
Witt said: “Having been to a number of conferences and trade events recently, there’s definitely been one word on everyone’s lips, and that’s Brexit. We had anticipated a possible decline in European travel but were estimated to remain on track to exceed last year’s figures.”
Co-founder Paul Harrison said the unanticipated, record sales figures were down to the “entrepreneurial spirit” shown by franchisees following investment in training homeworkers on personal and business development and spending time with them on a one-to-one basis over the last year.
Harrison said: “I am amazed by the results our travel consultants have achieved this month. I’ve seen their skills, knowledge and confidence grow massively over the last few months, and that’s why we’re seeing such fantastic figures.”
The group has more training planned for new franchisees and is in the final stages of rolling out a new website.
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