This was achieved despite a significant investment in the expansion of its member support services over the past fiscal year.
Almost 90 per cent of the profit will now flow directly back to Travellers Choice member shareholders in the form of an unfranked dividend of 6% on issued capital (30 cents per share) and trading rebates based on sales support for preferred partners.
The 2024/25 result is down on Travellers Choice’s record pre-tax profit for 2023/24 – a result that included the receipt of commissions earned in previous financial years but delayed due to pandemic-related administrative issues.
Christian Hunter, Managing Director, says the result reflects a solid performance for the award-winning network.
“Our underlying profit is almost on par with our 2022/23 result, which is a notable achievement given that over the past 12 months we have aggressively invested in growing our member support services,” said Hunter.
“This includes the roll-out of our innovative agent training program, ProStart, which Travellers Choice funds in full, enabling our members to address the vital issue of recruitment and retention at no-cost to their businesses.
“In addition, we have bolstered our support teams and ramped up our consumer marketing activities to help drive business through members’ doors.”
Hunter says Travellers Choice is also yet to see the full impact on revenue of its steady network expansion, which has seen the group add new members across all states over the past year.
“Despite ongoing concerns about cost-of-living pressures and the potential threat of geopolitical instability, we are seeing no dampening of demand for international travel, with European sales performing particularly well.
“The arrival of new members will further drive the growth we are seeing in overall sales volumes.”
Travellers Choice member shareholders will meet in Melbourne in late November for the Company’s Annual General Meeting, which will immediately precede the network’s 2025 Conference.
Main image (l to r): Trent Bartlett, Chairman; Christian Hunter, Managing Director
www.travelagentschoice.com.au.
