Homeworkers – who were heavily impacted by Covid just like the rest of the industry – have now reported a 74% increase in sales over the past 12 months.

Agent numbers have also surged 40% to just under 200 with plans to grow to 250 members this financial year. 

“[For us] it’s not really about how many [agents] we have got, it’s [about] how much each of them earn as individuals,” business development director Damian McDonough told TTG. “We put the focus on them being successful in their business.”

McDonough’s words echoed those of managing director Yvonne Leslie, who said the travel group cares about agents’ customers and businesses “just as much as they do.”

“We want their business to work,” she told TTG. To help agents expand their business as much as possible, Vertical Travel Group offers homeworkers a raft of services, including social media and email marketing. 

It also gives agents the freedom to brand their business as they like. 

“When they join Holiday Elite or Your Holiday Booking they become Your Holiday Booking or Holiday Elite agents but they can brand themselves however they like,” added group marketing director Ben Rodger. 

An example of this, Rodger told TTG, is Leeds-based Paul Robson, who has set up his own business under the umbrella group.

“He branded himself PR Travel – part of Holiday Elite," he said. "You don’t have that freedom to operate how you want at our competitors."