Between April 2015 and March 2016, the group also saw a 30% rise in cruise year on year, and a 6% rise in package holiday sales.

Opening this year’s conference, which is being held at the Atlantis in Dubai, Andy Stark said winter for 2015/16 and summer 1’6 had also proved strong.

Long haul grew by 6%, while the consortium also saw a 35% increase in short breaks (six nights and under). Stark also noted that Cape Verd had stood out as the new winter destination, as customers look for alternatives to Egypt and Tunisia.

For summer ‘16, Stark said the group had seen a “fantastic start”, with Q1 early booking up 6% year-on-year.

The non-family market is down – by 8% currently, although the family market is up 2% and as with winter, short breaks have increased 30%. In support of this, 14-night holidays only account for 19% of summer holidays.

He added “indications suggest the average booking value per person for summer ’16 is up by £20 to £713.”

“We’re in great shape; it’s all about your business,” Stark told delegates. “We are focused on producing marketing, Atol protection, and commercial and training support.”

Twenty-two of the new members were in attendance at the conference. Stark said the 32 new additions were a mixture of existing travel professionals branching out on their own or who had joined from other consortia, as well as new to industry agents.

“We always want to grow, and I think we are growing nicely, but we have no set target that we are aiming for,” he told TTG.

On being part of the dnata group, Stark added: “Now we’re able to understand what to do and engage with management at dnata and leverage some of their relationships.

“We are a competitive business and there is a challenging marketplace, but we have a good feeling right now and hopefully we will keep that going.”