Page & Moy Travel Group - Travelsphere, Page & Moy and Just You say holiday sales this year are up despite the impact of political unrest and natural disasters affecting some of its destinations.

Group CEO William Burton announced that sales revenue for summer 2011 is cumulatively 15% ahead on a like-for-like basis against 2010, compared to a UK packaged holiday market that is 3% ahead overall.

A key driver for this is its Page & Moy brand which re-launched in the autumn of 2010 delivering authentic experiences, greater individual freedom and smaller group sizes, which is cumulatively 20% ahead on revenue for summer 2011.

Operating profit in 2010 before one-off costs which excludes a £946,000 loss relating to last spring’s Icelandic ash cloud was £2.28 million. This compared to £1.8 million the previous year.

Mr Burton said that in addition to the Ash Cloud, the General Election, three BA Strikes, World Cup and Government Cutbacks had all impacted on 2010 trading, making the improved profit performance particularly pleasing.  He added that 2011 sales are still running well ahead of 2010 despite the economic uncertainty at home and events in the Middle East and Japan.

Travelsphere, the Group’s value & convenience brand, which was launched through the retail travel trade for the first time last autumn, is also performing strongly, with revenue 14% ahead for summer 2011, largely driven by strong long haul performance and growth in regional airport departures, with: