http://www.verticalgroup.co.uk/news/rss.xml Vertical Group, Travel Technology at its best. Travel Industry news and Latest Press releases from Vertical Group http://www.verticalgroup.co.uk/news/News-item.aspx?id=61 16/09/2009 PRESS RELEASE 15th September 2009 Vertical Group takes a controlling stake in Villas for Travel Today Vertical Group acquired a majority share holding in Villas for Travel, the villa specialist offering over 1000 holiday properties in 14 countries for an undisclosed sum. Vertical Group recently bought the trading assets of homeworking company Holiday Experts. The deal enables Vertical Group to have a controlling stake in a growing consumer specialist villa brand and to maximise sales across the platforms developed and serviced for the UK travel trade. Peter Healey CEO of the Vertical Group said “We are delighted with this deal which enables us to provide the villa product that our customers were requesting and differentiate our accommodation service to the travel trade with a unique range of holiday accommodations worldwide”. The deal also enables the Villas for Travel product to be sold to agents and customers using bedbank.com which is operated by Vertical Group. The Vertical Group is one of the longest established and largest providers of technology to the UK travel industry providing front and back office solutions, Web services including white label and bespoke websites , and VOIP services for travel companies. Catalina Vera Pile, Sales Manager of bedbank.com commented “We had been looking for this type of high quality villa product for some time and it is very exciting to have a range of top quality villas and apartments to offer our customers”. in such a broad range of markets”. Villas for Travel was set up in 2006 by Kathryn Bullock with venture capital from the Trapezia fund set up by Stargate Capital who will continue to remain shareholders. She will work closely with the new shareholder over the next few months to deal with the integration of the business and its technology platform. Kathryn Bullock Founder and MD of Villas for Travel said “I am pleased that Vertical Group will be able to develop the Villas for Travel brand further and to take it to its next level of growth. They have the right team, resources and infrastructure in Essex to really expand the business which is very exciting. I look forward to working with the team to achieve this and to develop the many future opportunities for the business both in the UK and abroad. ENDS http://www.verticalgroup.co.uk/news/News-item.aspx?id=63 09/12/2009 Miss Ellies Travel recently celebrated 25 years of service to travellers in Manchester with a party for staff and guests at the Oldham road branch, renowned for its 100ft wide office frontage. The offices were refurbished in the summer and a brand new website has been launched. Ellie Doherty established her business in 1985 and will be retiring from the business in December, though will still be involved in a consultancy capacity. For full MEN article and pictures, please click on the link below. http://www.verticalgroup.co.uk/news/News-item.aspx?id=64 04/02/2010 NEWS RELEASE HOLIDAY EXPERTS ANNOUNCE RECORD START TO 2010 4th February 2010 Homeworking company, Holiday Experts have announced a record start to 2010 with sales figures increased by 25% year on year and an average booking value increased by 30% year on year as the business has focussed heavily on new marketing methods. Peter Healey, CEO of Holiday Experts said “. Following the acquisition of Holiday Experts last year, we have restructured the business and changed our routes to market with a focus less dominated by Teletext style advertising by increasing our online presence and we are absolutely thrilled with these results” Parent company, Vertical Group has created several bespoke websites working with selected business partners to generate new sales leads for homeworkers. Healey continued, “The increase of average booking values is as a direct result of our focus in selling good quality properties combined with a new marketing strategy which has bought an increased number of visitors to our websites, once engaged on the site, the customers have all the information about our key properties they could need, which is backed up by the personal knowledge and experience of our homeworkers” Holiday Experts works under the Miss Ellies Travel brand which joined the Freedom Travel Consortia in 2009. All holiday Experts bookings are centrally administered in Manchester by Miss Ellies Travel allowing the homeworkers to concentrate on sales and local marketing whilst benefiting from centrally generated leads. Mike Russell, Holiday Experts added “Our homeworkers have embraced the recent changes in our marketing strategy which has led them to be amongst the highest earners in the homeworking sector. They are all working extremely hard to maximise the enquiries, which of course will reap increased earnings in the coming months” Holiday Experts was acquired by the Vertical Group in 2009 recently launched a brand new recruitment website: http://www.homeworking-experts.co.uk to support the drive to increase the team as announced in October by Peter Healey. Russell concluded:” We have a great proposition for agents wishing to become homeworkers working with leads supplied or from their own client base with full support 24 hours a day. ENDS For further information contact: Amanda Taylor 07595 778433- PR Manager Vertical Group Editor’s notes: The Vertical Group has celebrated over 25 years service to the UK travel industry as providers of TARSC, travel agency booking system. Vertical also offers a range of software solutions, including voice and data solutions, tour operator management systems, web design and hosting, email, Magic Desktop and new CRM Platform, Athena. Miss Ellies Travel in Manchester, a travel agency and tour operator, WWW.Bedbank.com, accommodation only suppliers and Homeworking Company, Holiday Experts are also within the Vertical Group of companies. http://www.verticalgroup.co.uk/news/News-item.aspx?id=65 08/02/2010 RECORD BREAKING BEDBANK SALES 8TH February 2010 Peter Healey, CEO of Bedbank described the first 4 weeks of 2010 as “The most successful start to a new year in the history of Bedbank”, following cumulative results showing that passenger numbers had more than doubled and sales had increased by over 400%. Bedbank was launched in 2001 and is now recognised as a leading supplier of accommodation only to travel agents and is proud of its association with the retail travel industry. Bedbank is a division of TARSC creator, Vertical Group. Healey said “We have a reputation as a supplier of excellent value, quality accommodation and we have worked hard to ensure we remain competitive with a great pricing structure. We have focussed heavily on contracting good quality hotels and self-catering properties but also use 3rd party suppliers to enable us to offer quality accommodation across the globe. He continued;“ We have seen an increase in sales to Spanish destinations as the Western Mediterranean resorts reduce their prices to gain market share. Consumers are not yet aware that Turkey is now a more expensive destination than in previous years whilst Spain remains easy to reach with flights to all destinations from across the UK and now represents better value than in recent years. The Tenerife Tourist board campaign has also worked hard to increase product awareness which has helped to increase bookings to their resorts.” Bedbank have their own contracted rates across the Mediterranean, Egypt, Goa and Florida. Catalina Pile, Reservation Manager added; “We have a fantastic team of knowledgeable staff who offer a flexible approach and we believe that excellent customer service has contributed to the continued success of Bedbank. January has seen new registered users to WWW.Bedbank.com rise by over 30% as many agents contact us for the first time. We strive to deliver the best accommodation at the lowest price and pride ourselves on a very low complaint ratio” Vertical Group acquired Villas for Travel in 2009 following an increase in demand for high quality villa accommodation throughout the Mediterranean and launched a dedicated ski website was launched in December 2008. ENDS For further information contact: Amanda Taylor 07595 778433- PR Manager Vertical Group Editor’s notes: The Vertical Group has celebrated over 25 years service to the UK travel industry as providers of TARSC, travel agency booking system. Vertical also offers a range of software solutions, including voice and data solutions, tour operator management systems, web design and hosting, email, Magic Desktop and new CRM Platform, Athena. Miss Ellies Travel in Manchester, a travel agency and tour operator, WWW.Bedbank.com, accommodation only suppliers and Homeworking Company, Holiday Experts are also within the Vertical Group of companies. http://www.verticalgroup.co.uk/news/News-item.aspx?id=67 27/05/2010 Vertical Group's Wes Johnson was recognised recently in the East of England regional Apprentice awards, receiving a HIghly commended as Apprentice of the year 2010. Winning this award underlines the hard work and dedication that Wes has committed to his apprenticeship, which should see him complete his training in information and communication technology, 9 months ahead of schedule. His Manager , Nyki Dylworth said: " Wes is a great asset to our business and we are lucky to have found such a talented apprentice. He has excelled above and beyond our expectations" The awards took place in Newmarket , Suffolk. http://www.verticalgroup.co.uk/news/News-item.aspx?id=68 14/07/2010 Congratulations to Wesley Johnson of the Vertical Group Helpdesk for winning "Apprentice of the Year" in the Basildon Business awards. Well done Wesley on your fantastic acheivment!