Corporate travel agency Atlas bounces back from pandemic as sales soar

The company, owned by Liam Lonergan’s travel agency Club Travel, recorded sales of over €35.9m for the financial year ended October 2023, up 26pc on the previous year.

‘Corporate travel is exceeding 2019 levels in both volume and revenue’

Atlas Travel also recorded an operating profit of almost €848,000, up from just over €780,000 in 2022.

In response to questions, Colman Burke, a director of Club Travel, said 2023 had been a year of recovery for the corporate travel sector.

“Corporate travel has completely recovered and is exceeding 2019 levels in both volume and in revenue terms,” he said.

Burke also said the directors of the Atlas Travel business were pleased with the 2023 results and were confident of continuing to enhance its financial performance in the current financial year.

​Burke added that managing the rate of growth following the pandemic had been a challenge.

The company is currently in a steady, organic growth period, which is allowing it to enhance the services it offers customers, he said.

Burke said the business would recruit 30 to 40 more staff across the Club Travel group this year.

Club Travel bought Atlas Travel in 2019 as part of broader industry consolidation amid strong online competition.

The move represented Club Travel’s most significant acquisition, following its takeovers of Abbey Travel and Budget Travel in 2015 and 2010 respectively.