The operator began selling through travel consultants in June and last week launched its first dedicated programme of shop visits and in-store training.

Ramblers Walking Holidays, which is a member of Aito, belongs to the RWH Travel Group, whose other walking tour brands – Adagio and Load Off Your Back – also became bookable to agents this summer.

Paco Gonzalez, sales and reservations manager, said Ramblers Walking Holidays had originally begun working with Aito Specialist Travel Agents and was now looking to build its network of trade partners.

“Selling through agents is in its infancy at present, but we want to get the word out more and more,” he told TTG.

“It’s a specialist product, but from the feedback we have been getting from agents since the summer, they want to be able to offer clients something different.”

Gonzalez, who joined the operator in February, said the business, which offers tours worldwide, was looking at introducing agent fam trips next year.

“It’s definitely something we have looked at, and moving forward I think we will run at least a couple in 2018. I imagine they will be performance based.”

He explained how agents can earn between 10-13% in commission, depending on the product sold.

Gonzalez is visiting agents alongside Tony Maniscalco, marketing, public relations and partnerships manager, with the pair acting as Ramblers Walking Holidays’ on-the-road sales team.

Agents can also book the operator’s product via its recently launched online portal, although Gonzalez said that due to the specialism of the product, “the majority of agents have so far spoken to us first before booking to ask for advice”.

“Our team is always here to give trade the help and support they need,” he added.