More travel agents are booking through Lowcost Travel Group during the peak new year selling period.

The company said 70% more agents were booking with the company in January.

Passenger numbers for Lowcostbeds was up by 123% over the same month last year to 82,000 passengers while Resorthoppa recorded a 40% rise to 135,000.

Group sales director Tim Buckman said: “Over the past five years we have built up a strong reputation with the trade and we are working with new agents every week. 

“Our price and service guarantees throughout January resulted in a significant uplift in new customers.”

A key new account for January was Directline Holidays.

The largest area of growth is forward bookings for travel in June, July and August.

Buckman said: “Forward sales have been a real success story so far this year.

“We put this down to the fact that we were one of the first bed banks and transfer providers to get summer 2010 on sale, but moreover, this is further evidence that there is great value in dynamic packaging and that agents are no longer primarily just using dynamic packages for late sales.”

To help capitalise on this advance booking trend, lowcostbeds claims to be the first bed bank to put summer 2011 on sale with availability for May-October 2011 for both accommodation only and transfers. 

by Phil Davies