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Advantage Travel Partnership to grow managed services
More than 50 The Advantage Travel Partnership members gathered in Majorca earlier this month for the Partnership’s Managed Services Conference.
The three-night event at Kimpton Aysla Mallorca in Santa Ponsa, was hosted by Classic Collection, with Fred Olsen, Expedia TAAP, Exodus and Vertical Systems as supporting sponsors.
Delegates were given an update on Advantage’s growth goals for its Managed Services model (AMS), as well as its technology investment plans.
There was also a workshop on ‘Unleashing Potential’ and a marketing surgery hosted by the Partnership’s Head of Marketing David Forder.
A panel debate also took place with members sharing their plans for the future.
Kelly Cookes, Chief Commercial Officer said: “The vast majority of our members who operate under our Managed Services proposition have had a really strong year of trading this year.”
“Across our AMS operating model we have seen significant growth with turnover at +30%, margin per booking, up by 3% with cruise sales more than doubling.
“There is no doubt the appetite we are seeing to join our managed service model is making it one of the fastest-growing operating models within the membership portfolio.”
Advantage manages all supplier payments, licensing and commercial contracts, which allows business owners the time to focus on sales and customer service.
It says the strategic focus for 2024 is to continue helping members maximise the commercial opportunities afforded from being a member of the Partnership.
In 2022 Advantage achieved a £120m turnover for this area of its business and currently has more than 70 branches operating under its managed services model.
Delegate Evan Desmond, Head of Leisure at Gray Dawes Group, said: “It was great to learn about future developments and to network with other like-minded business owners.”
Cookes added: “Every member who operates under an Advantage’s AMS model has their own trust account. It is a robust operating solution that works really effectively for members.”
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