Althams hails success of first post-Covid travel show

Pictured: Althams Travel managing director Sandra McAllister with the agency’s head office staff at the show

Althams Travel is expecting to gain more than 60 new bookings as a result of hosting its first consumer travel show since the pandemic.

The agency chain held its Holiday & Cruise Show at Burnley Football Club, with more than 30 branch staff present to take bookings on the day.

The event, on January 15, was attended by 360 consumers while 19 tour operator partners hosted stands at the show, with all offering excusive offers put together for customers at the show.

As well as the show exhibition, there were presentations by seven selected operators and a booking station manned by Althams’ agents to take sales or holiday enquiries at the event.

The agency, which covers Lancashire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, took more than 25 bookings in total on the day with more to be followed up in branch.

Sales development manager Marie Leach said the company expected to end up with around 60 or more bookings as a result of the show once all the sales leads and enquiries had been followed up. In the past, the annual show has generated at least 50 sales.

She said: “The show was packed. It was so exciting to have that buzz back of a busy booking environment. More people came along than we expected, and that speaks volumes. Travel is definitely back!”

The event was promoted across Althams’ 31 stores and on social media, with free tickets available through the agency’s website. It was organised with the help of travel marketing specialist 3FOR.

“It went so well we have booked to hold it at the stadium again next year,” said Leach, who said further shows were also planned for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire later this year.

A competition on the day also encouraged customers to guess the weight of an Althams’ branded suitcase filled with brochures, with a £250 holiday voucher handed out as the top prize.