TTNG reveals where business is booming
A marked increase in cruise, tour and long-haul bookings has boosted The Travel Network Group members’ business during the peak booking period by 4.8% year on year.
Cruise revenue is up 47%, there has been a 29% increase in revenue from tours, and long-haul revenue is up 16%.
Vim Vithaldas, who has assumed the role of chief commercial officer, told the TTNG conference in Budapest that UK breaks and European short-haul have not performed well, due to a sluggish family market.
The group saw an 11% drop in Europe and short-haul bookings, and a 13.6% drop in revenue, while revenue from UK breaks was down 12.5% following an 8.9% drop in bookings.
"The family market has not quite come through during the peaks," said Vithaldas, "but we are hoping it will come back in the lates market."
However, business for summer 2019 is up 11.69% overall, he added, while summer 2020 business is up 108% year on year, although he stressed it had only been on sale a short while.
The US has regained the position it lost three years ago as the most popular long-haul destination for 2019, followed by Asia and the Caribbean.
To further support agents in gaining new business, Vithaldas said TTNG had introduced a number of initiatives, including more data analysis to help members identify trends and ensure they’re getting their share of growing markets.
Members will receive weekly reports based on figures provided by TTNG business partners, along with more in-depth analysis each month.
It will also launch several ‘How to Sell’ seminars covering UK breaks, ancillaries, touring, luxury holidays and preparing to sell in the peaks, plus a new Search and Find function in the Hub, which automatically finds the right product for the individual client.
It has also pledged to negotiate more offers and incentives with industry partners.
Going forward, Vithaldas said TTNG would focus on all segments of the market, adding that it plans to put more emphasis on UK breaks and winter breaks, where it has been lacking in the past.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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