Advantage announced on Monday (30 October) the AMS operating model had grown significantly over the past year, with substantial growth both in terms of turnover and margin per booking.
AMS turnover increased by 30% over the past year, while booking margins increase by 3%. Cruise sales among AMS members, meanwhile, have more than doubled.
The consortium hosted more than 50 members at its three-day AMS conference in Majorca earlier this month, bringing them together to share its growth goals for its AMS division and plans to invest in technology.
Delegates also took part in a workshop on "unleashing potential" and a dedicated marketing session. A panel debate, meanwhile, saw several members share stories of their business journeys to date and future plans.
“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 Advantage membership portfolio, providing a full end-to-end business solution,” said chief commercial officer Kelly Cookes.
Cookes’ words echoed those of chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said, who in mid-May said the managed service model was “where growth is”. Just last year, Advantage’s AMS division reported turnover of £120 million, with more than 70 branches using the model
The conference was hailed as a success by participants; Mel White of White’s Travel said the event had filled her “with enthusiasm, vigour and with great ideas to implement into the business”.
Evan Desmond, Gray Dawes Group head of leisure, added: “It was great to learn about future developments from the Advantage team and to also network with other like-minded business owners with the same ambition to grow their business."
