Online operator Mainstage Travel, which won investment on Dragon’s Den in 2014, also offers clubbing holidays and features a range of trips to European party events in both winter and sun destinations including Ibiza, Magaluf and the company’s own music festival Snowboxx, held in the Alpine ski resort of Avoriaz.
Sales and marketing director Aden Levin, who was part of the 30 Under 30 2015-16 intake, told TTG that the London-based operator was set on raising its percentage of agency sales from 2% to 15% over the next six months.
He hopes to create partnerships with third-party agents, and revealed that Mainstage Travel was “potentially” considering setting up a high-street presence.
Levin said that the operator was willing to offer product training and standard industry commission to agents, as well as holidays as booking incentives for top-sellers.
“We’ve done a little bit with STA Travel but working with agents is an area we want to develop,” Levin said. “We have noticed quite an increase in the amount of agents who are interested in selling our packages and we want to raise awareness of the brand and what we offer to the trade before the January peaks begin.
“The trade is definitely an important avenue to help us grow and expand the way we do business. We do get customers asking if they can come in and make bookings in-store so we’re looking at the opportunities of creating our own network of agents who sell us,” Levin added.
He launched Mainstage Travel in 2011 with university friend and managing director Rob Tominey.
The duo landed a £100,000 investment deal after pitching their business model to the dragons on the hit TV show Dragon’s Den, securing one of the largest-ever deals seen on the programme.
Four dragons, including Duncan Bannatyne, Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones, made offers but it was technology expert Piers Linney who the pair selected as their backer.
“Our product really isn’t just the bog-standard and tired 18-30 holidays you see being offered by other brands,” Levin said. “It’s a fun and immersive experience in which we offer customers the best hotels and the best events. It’s a great product for agents to be onboard with.”