Not Just Travel achieved a sales boost of more than 36% last year and now targets further “rapid growth”, the homeworking franchise told its biggest-ever annual conference.

The event in Stratford-upon-Avon at the weekend (January 6-7) hosted more than 400 agents and 50 corporate team members, as well as more than 40 key trade partners.

Delegates heard that nearly 250 agents were recruited last year, which was double the number welcomed in 2022.

Not Just Travel co-founder Steve Witt described last year’s sales growth of 36.6% as “phenomenal”, adding: “Our upwards sales trend looks set to continue well into peaks and beyond.”

Agents now make twice as many cruise bookings per day compared with 2022 after a focus on the sector over the last 12 months.

“We’ve paid more commission to our travel franchisees than ever before, as their sales go stratospheric,” said Witt, who wants to see further progress this year.

“We are implementing a number of initiatives and programmes to help our members be even more profitable,” he added.

Hays Travel chair Dame Irene Hays, who spoke via video message at the conference, said Not Just Travel is Hays Travel’s fastest-growing independent travel brand.

She said: “Not Just Travel sees where the industry is going in the future and adapts. One example is cruise. NJT’s focus on the cruise market in the last 12 months has been phenomenal and we can all see the results.”

Derek Jones, non-executive director with Not Just Travel, said the franchise was entering “a new era”.

“In 2024 you will see many more ground-breaking initiatives coming out of this incredible business as we embark on our next stage of rapid growth,” he said.

Top performers last year included Mark and Isobel McCardie, who secured bookings worth over £3.8 million.

Gaynor Speakman secured more than £1.7 million, while Lloydie Gardener’s figure was £1.47 million and Ben Casey’s was over £1.5 million.
Working part-time, Gemma Outram secured £1.5 million in cruise sales alongside her full-time job as the franchise’s cruise business development manager.

Elliott Prendergast took bookings worth £1 million while working part-time alongside his full-time job.