Caledonian Leisure, which includes the Caledonian Travel coach holiday operation, saw its turnover grow by 40% in 2023 to surpass £55 million, with further upward movement expected.
The business – which also operates the UKBreakaways brand – now employs over 100 staff and says that later this summer it will welcome its millionth customer since launch in June 2021.
Managing Director Graham Rogers notes that the company has “ambitious plans” to build on 2023’s results “as we continue to develop our product portfolio, infrastructure, and commercial partnerships.”
He underlines that significant investment has already been made, including via purchase of Glasgow-based Tartan Travel earlier in 2024 and the introduction of new departure points in Edinburgh and the East of Scotland. The travel centre network has also grown, while a range of Caledonian-branded hotels across some resorts has been launched.
On product portfolio, the business has seen event packages to sports gatherings expand by taking advantage of “unprecedented demand” in that area. Meanwhile, the UKBreakaways arm has seen success in its growth of a programme of entertainment experiences.
Observes Caledonian Leisure Commercial Director Martin Lock: “Sustaining a steady rate of growth across our brands is great news, and we are encouraged by recent research which shows that over 50% of our customers intend to travel more with us over the next 12 months.
“Gaining customer loyalty is essential in the travel industry, and our network of agents plays a key role in delivering our award-winning service and experience to customers. We thank them for their support and look forward to working closely with new and existing partners going forward.”
Finance Director David McDonald adds: “The business is in a very robust position at the moment, and we are confident that the investment we have made this year will further accelerate our growth.
“The satisfaction of our customers is always our main focus, and it is for that reason that we have retained ABTOT protection for our customers in order to provide still further security alongside our trust account. We are very excited for what the next 12 months have in store.”
