InteleTravel explains decision to cut down Atol size
Ilaria Grasso MacolaOnly experienced agents are allowed to package holidays under InteleTravel’s Atol licence as the homeworking giant doesn’t want to "dilute" its supplier partners’ revenue, senior management has told TTG.
InteleTravel, which was granted its Atol licence three years ago, has cut its licence from 5,300 passengers in 2021 to 501 in 2024. This has come despite a rapid rise in the number of agents joining InteleTravel, which now has 20,000 homeworkers in its ranks.
Nevertheless, president James Ferrara told TTG InteleTravel prefers that only a select number of trained agents dynamically package using its smaller Atol licence.
“We require agents to undergo training before we allow them to package under our Atol licence so that limits the number of agents who can do it,” he explained.
Ferrara stressed InteleTravel "wouldn’t mind" holding a bigger Atol again, but admitted it wasn’t a priority.
"In order to cover customers whose agents wanted to book a hotel and then book an airfare and create a package, we went out and got ourselves an Atol licence," he explained.
His words were echoed by UK managing director Tricia Handley-Hughes, who told TTG: “We have to remember that we have got a huge portfolio of partners so we don’t want to dilute their revenue.
"And if you look at our business model, it traditionally suits those with no travel experience."
Handley-Hughes noted how new agents tended to book operators which had their own Atol licence before later becoming confident enough to dynamically package holidays for their customers.
The homeworking giant achieved record sales in the UK and Irish market, outperforming the US – its main market – by 26 percentage points.
In the eight months to the end of August, UK and Irish homeworkers achieved £95 million in sales – up from £85 million the year before.
The homeworking group is also poised to reach £143 million by the year’s end, which will represent a 70% surge compared to 2023.
“These results are a celebration of you,” Ferrara told delegates attending InteleTravel’s conference in Sorrento.
“The part myself, Tricia and all the executives and employees at InteleTravel play here is to set you up firmly in your own driver’s seat toward your own future fulfilment and success.”
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