Trade sales currently represent 10% of bookings for the company, which was founded in 2007 by three siblings. But co-founder and director James Mannings told TTG he believed there was no reason that figure couldn’t double in the next year or two, and even come to represent 50% of Top Villas’ business eventually.
Fellow co-founder and business development director Susannah Schwenderling, who oversaw the launch of an initial trade focus two years ago, said Top Villas had been experiencing growth through key operators such as ITC, Carrier, Kuoni and Abercrombie & Kent, as well as Hays and Freedom, but agreed there was even more potential in the trade.
“We have put quite a lot of partnerships in place, especially for those wanting to use our white-label site, for which we have been receiving great feedback,” she said. “A trade portal launched last year includes net rates and live availability, and agents can earn 10% commission; we’re keen to spread the word and get more agents to work with us.”
Sales overall in 2018 were up by 40% following enhanced levels of marketing and promotion and a new website in 2017, she added.
The company started in Orlando, a destination where it still has the majority of product, but also one where it continues to see a great deal of growth.
For this year, 600 new properties will be added in Orlando alone, taking it to 1,900 in the area, with Top Villas expecting to reach 2,300-2,500 homes there by the end of 2019.
“With ongoing developments at the Orlando theme parks, there are constantly new reasons to go, combined with some great deals on airfares we have been noticing from the UK,” said Mannings.
More than 5,000 villas now feature, with the company aiming to double its portfolio by 2020 across Europe, the Caribbean and south-east Asia, while new product has been added in Indonesia and Thailand this year.
