The agreements with Hays and the homeworking division of The Travel Network Group mean SPL Villas’ 1,500-plus properties are now available across Hays’ network of nearly 700 shops and 500 homeworkers, as well as ITE’s almost 100 homeworkers. They join existing partnerships with Travel Counsellors, Advantage, Barrhead and PTS.
To support this, Mike Lee joins Anne Clays and Sarah Gill in the SPL Villas trade sales team as trade & business support manager for the South of England. Lee brings more than 20 years’ experience, having held senior sales executive and consultancy roles with a range of travel brands.
SPL is widening its distribution after gaining an Atol in late 2023.
Managing director Edward Frampton-Fell said: “We’ve significantly grown our trade distribution capacity in recent months and are happy to welcome Hays and ITE agents to those with whom we’re already working.
“Agents accounted for around a third of the bookings we took last year but we want to grow that number in 2024, and we’re confident that those from Hays and ITE will be excited by the value, quality and variety of our villas, as well as the reassurance offered by our Atol and Abtot membership.
“We’re pleased to welcome someone with Mike’s expertise to our hard-working trade sales team for what should be a busy year of growth.”
SPL Villas has also grown its team with the appointment of new product manager Katie Strange, a specialist in the villa sector for more than seven years. Her focus will be to grow the SPL product range and improve its depth in key resorts, as well as commercially strengthening existing partnerships.
Frampton-Fell continued: “We’ll be growing our portfolio by around 15% in the coming months, with ambitions to add further during 2024. It’s great to welcome Katie to the team to spearhead that effort and ensure SPL is offering both our agent and direct customers the widest range of premium and luxury villas possible.”
