Travel Department Reported 30% Growth in UK Sales
The Irish tour operator expanded its agency partnerships throughout the United Kingdom.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Travel — General
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Travel Department achieved a 30% increase in trade sales across the United Kingdom in 2026. This growth follows the company's 2023 move to begin selling its tour packages through local travel agents.
Why it matters
The company credits its rising sales figures to high levels of repeat business and its existing airlift capacity from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast. This strategy has helped the operator deepen its footprint in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Travel Department maintains a 4.8 customer rating on TrustPilot after 30 years of operation. The firm also reported a 70% annual increase in Irish departed revenue.
The players
Travel Department
This tour operator is based in Ireland and focuses on providing organized travel packages through various trade partnerships.
Barrhead Travel
This is a major UK-based travel agency group that partners with tour operators to offer vacation packages to consumers.
The details
Travel Department leverages key partnerships with agencies including Barrhead Travel, Oasis Travel, Advantage, The Travel Network Group, and Protected Trust Services to reach customers. The company continues to operate with dedicated trade sales managers in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Timeline
Travel Department was founded in Ireland in 1996.
The company began selling through agents in the UK in 2023.
The firm expanded agent sales to the Republic of Ireland in late 2024.
A trade sales team restructuring and portal upgrade occurred in 2025.
A new product proposition is planned for the UK in the second half of 2027.
Travel Outlook
This strategy follows a broader sector trend where tour operators rely on agency networks to reach a wider demographic. The company now aims to extend this model into England to capture further market share.
Travelers in the UK may find more booking options through local travel agents as the company expands its network. Customers should verify that their chosen agency holds proper credentials when booking international packages.
The takeaway
The company plans to introduce its Outbounder brand to the UK market following its successful implementation in Ireland. Future business operations are slated for expansion into England to build upon current growth metrics.
What happens next
Travel Department intends to launch a new product proposition in the UK market during the second half of 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about industry trends in the Travel — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Travel Weekly UK.
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