Not Just Travel reports record August halfway through month

Homeworking agency Not Just Travel has reached record levels of business for an August – with two weeks of this month still remaining – thanks to late sales and bumper bookings into next year.

The record August has seen sales up 25% compared to the same period last year, with the average booking value also rising by an average of £607 per booking

Co-founder Steve Witt said: “This month, so far, we’ve paid more commission to our travel franchisees than ever before. Sales are simply staggering.

“August is traditionally a slow month in terms of holiday bookings but many of our consultants have been busier than ever.”

While wet weather prompted a surge in last-minute bookings, Not Just Travel consultants are also booking a high volume of long-haul escapes for winter as well as package holidays for 2024.

The agency said cruise sales are “booming” thanks to “incredible offers” from partners, with some itineraries costing less than £69 per day.

In the first week of August, NJT husband-and-wife team Colman and Rachael Coyne sold seven cruises. Agent Paula Warden booked six cruises in just one day at the start of August.

More: Not Just Travel targets cruise growth with new senior BDM

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Meanwhile, Lloydie Gardiner has already taken more than 29 bookings worth £127,000 in total, with many of them being package holidays for 2024.

He said: “I’ve had the best August I’ve ever had – it’s the second best month I’ve had this year and there’s still two weeks left to go.

“It feels like January peaks has come early. I’ve already beaten my target and, as I’ve got so many quotes to catch up with, I’ve set myself a new one of £200k this month.”

Big bookings continue to be commonplace while group bookings appear to be a growing trend.

One of NJT’s most successful consultants, Travel Weekly columnist David Walker (The Travel Snob) made a single £105,000 booking to Bermuda on Tuesday (August 15) plus a £60,000 flight-only booking for 40 people over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Michelle Poutch, who launched her home-based agency in April, secured a 42-person booking to Las Vegas worth £52,000 on Tuesday, having made several bookings in her first week after five days of virtual training.