North East travel agency Dawson and Sanderson has hailed a year of “behind-the-scenes transformation and investment” as it posted turnover of almost £10m.
The holiday operator, which has its head office in Newcastle city centre and high street branches across Tyneside, Cumbria and Yorkshire, has published accounts for 2024 citing a slow start to the financial year which picked up with plentiful late bookings.
The firm acts as an agent for a variety of tour operators, cruise lines, and airlines, facilitating bookings for package holidays, cruises, and air travel, while also specialising in business travel management.
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It also operates a foreign exchange division and, outside of its core travel services, it has diversified into the leisure and hospitality sector by operating a golf course, driving range, and clubhouse in Northumberland, diversification it says “supports long-term strategic growth, leverages the company’s brand in lifestyle and leisure, and provides an additional channel for community engagement and brand visibility”.
Turnover dipped slightly from £10.4m to £9.9m, while operating profit fell from £1.09m to £345,877. Pre-tax profit was down to £119,571 from £909,685 but shareholder funds increased from £2.135m to £3.87m. Employee numbers rose slightly from 218 to 221.
Despite seeing turnover dip, the firm said overall booked revenue increased. It also said a key priority is to expand its presence on the high street by offering personalised, in-branch travel advice that builds lasting relationships and drives repeat business.
Reviewing the year’s performance in a report, directors said: “2024 has been a year of transformation and resilience for Dawson & Sanderson. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and global disruption, we have taken significant strides in strengthening our core operations, investing in our finance and technology infrastructure, and positioning the business for sustainable growth.
“While market conditions have presented considerable challenges, our strategic investments and customer-focused approach have enabled us to maintain momentum and build a solid foundation for the future.
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"This year saw a significant investment in our finance function, with a comprehensive overhaul of our accounting systems and processes. This transformation has also enabled us to develop а robust three-year business plan, providing a clear roadmap for growth and performance management across the business.
“Like much of the industry, we have faced a range of external challenges that have significantly impacted operations during this period. These include rising costs for both consumers and businesses, ongoing global conflicts and geopolitical tensions, as well as political changes in the 海角视频 and internationally. Collectively, these factors have created a volatile environment for the travel industry, influencing demand patterns, operational costs, and overall market stability.
“Despite these challenges, Dawson & Sanderson has remained agile, adapting our commercial strategies and maintaining a strong focus on customer service and operational efficiency.
“2024 experienced a slower start than anticipated; however, in line with wider industry trends, we saw a buoyant late bookings market throughout the summer period. The cruise market continued to perform strongly within our business, delivering a 9% year-on-year increase in revenue.
“While there was a slight decrease in the number of booked passengers during the period, we were encouraged by a strong return customer rate and a healthy proportion of new customers. Overall booked revenue increased, reflecting a trend of customers choosing to invest more in their travel experiences.
“While 2024 has been a year of behind-the-scenes transformation and investment, it has laid strong foundations for future growth. These developments position the business to pursue further investment across our retail network and broader portfolio.”