Despite only completing her training on 7 January, Ami Wood got off to an incredible start doing nearly £20,000 worth of business in a single day and £50,000 in her first week (7-14 January).

Not Just Travel’s total sales on "Blue Monday" (17 January) came in three times up on the same day last year, earning co-founder Steve Witt a congratulatory call from Hays Travel chief operating officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston. Not Just Travel is a member of the Hays Travel Independence Group.

Wood, who has now taken more than £75,000 in new bookings, said she’d been at her laptop from dawn until dusk amid the sales rush, and was delighted with her change of career after spending 22 years working in admin and accounts.

"I’ve had fantastic support and training from The Travel Franchise ready for this time and I’m loving my job," she said. "I can’t wait to start each day. This is the best decision I’ve ever made.”

More than 50% of Not Just Travel’s new bookings were for this summer; popular short-haul destinations included the Canaries, Turkey and Greece, while Florida, Barbados and the Maldives generated the most long-haul bookings.

“Monday was a record day for us in terms of passenger booking numbers, including every year before the pandemic started," said Witt. "The average booking value was £5,000 so people are spending more. Customers are also making faster decisions to buy their holiday now as summer availability is beginning to get limited.”

Woodall-Johnston added: “Not Just Travel’s extraordinary sales figures have impressed us all; so much so that I felt I had to pick up the phone to congratulate Steve and the team. They are a credit to our industry as their unique business model proves that close relationships with clients and trade suppliers generates loyal customers who are happy to spend.”