HLO boasts 2,447 members
HELLOWORLD has highlighted the growth of its retail network across Australia and New Zealand to a total of 2,447 members as at 30 Jun 2019, including the opening of 30 new Helloworld Travel branded agencies.
That was a year-on-year increase of 224, including 207 in NZ through the addition of NZ Travel Brokers, Gilpin Travel, Barlow Travel and more.
The figures were part of this morning’s HLO annual results announcement (TD breaking news), which saw TTV up 9.1% to $6.5 billion and a 21% increase in pre-tax profit to $54.5 million.
Australia continued to be the key driver of the business, with TTV up 10% to $5.5 billion.
In New Zealand TTV rose 6% to $851.9 million, but the company’s Rest of World segment declined in terms of both TTV and revenue “primarily reflecting challenging market conditions for the USA wholesale and Insider Journeys businesses,” the company said.
The 18/19 financial year saw the full integration of earlier acquisitions, Magellan Travel Group, Flight Systems Group and Asia Escape Holidays into the wider group, along with the purchase of Show Group and NZbased Williment Travel Group.
Consumer marketing initiatives included a strategic media partnership with News Corporation and the Helloworld TV show, resulting in “significant increases in Helloworld Travel’s brand recognition”.
The company noted that the travel sector continued to grow strongly during FY19, but growth faltered in the final quarter.
HELLOWORLD Travel’s Group GM Retail & Commercial, John Constable, was the company’s highest paid executive last year, with the HLO annual report released today indicating his salary package was worth $1.26m.
That was more than twice the $603,000 each received by CEO Andrew Burnes and Executive Director Cinzia Burnes, with Constable’s pay including $339,000 in housing, motor vehicle and travel allowances.
Helloworld CFO Michael Burnett earnt $784,000, while Group GM Corporate Nick Sutherland’s package was worth $490,000 and Simon McKearney, Group GM NZ earned $399,000 during the year.