Travel Counsellors Recognised For A Seventh Year For International Growth

We’re delighted to have secured a place on a prestigious listing in the UK in recognition of our international sales growth in the last 12 months.

This is the seventh time we’ve been ranked in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200, after expanding into seven countries and experiencing double-digit growth year on year since the company’s inception in 1994.

With over 1,800 home-based Travel Counsellors running their own businesses across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Australia and the UAE, we’ve consistently achieved strong growth figures, with group turnover increasing by 59% over the past three years, and the growth in international operators increasing by 75% during the same period. Our total transaction value for the financial year end (31 October 2016) is £512 million (R9 bn), of which 27% is now generated outside the UK.

The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table ranks companies with the fastest-growing global sales, measured over their latest two years of available accounts, with minimum total sales of £25m (R440m) and international sales of at least £1m (R17,6m). Last year we were was also named in The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table, ranking Britain's mid-market growth private companies with the biggest sales, and received the 2017 National Business Award for Customer Focus.

Steve Byrne, CEO said: “We are thrilled to be recognised for the seventh time for our continued growth overseas. The international success of our business model is in no small part due to the care we show to our customers, using technology to enhance the personal relationships and exceptional service our Travel Counsellors provide to their loyal client base. This is why our model has really been embraced by the overseas markets we have expanded into, with our international presence also benefiting our Travel Counsellors and their customers by building on our global buying power, local knowledge and enabling true 24/7 support.”

He adds; “To build on our growth and the support we give to our Travel Counsellors, we are investing heavily in our people and the technology to enable them to provide customers with a truly personalised and authentic travel experience. Over the past 12 months alone we have invested £6m (R106m) in our global technology, including the launch of our own customer app and the continued development of our in-house booking system, Phenix.”