United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
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.”
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations