Sunshine.co.uk claims 80% rise in pre-tax profit to £1.8 million

Pre-tax profits at online travel agency sunshine.co.uk rose by 80% to £1.8 million in the year to August 2014.

Pre-tax profits at online travel agency sunshine.co.uk rose by 80% to £1.8 million in the year to August 2014.

Net sales increased by 53% year-on-year, from £34.4 million in the year to August 2013 to £52.5 million in the year to August 2014.

Passenger numbers are up 29% so far in the current trading year with customer retention increasing by 10%. Return customers have made up 50% of total sales at parts of the year so far.

Sales for the company’s sister cruising website bonvoyage.uk increased 78% so far, with new suppliers set to be added in the near future.

The company said it was continually looking to develop new partnerships with other cruise lines to help expand the site’s offering.

The latest financial results follow the company’s first partial year of trading as an independent travel agency, after gaining its own Atol licence and Abta membership in November 2013.

A new website is being developed and further technical advancements that will benefit customers are to follow “very soon”.

The most popular resorts booked by holidaymakers are Benidorm in Spain, Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt and Playa de las Americas in Tenerife.

Chris Clarkson, managing director, said: “There’s no denying that these financial results are really fantastic and we couldn’t be happier with the way things are going.

“Passenger numbers are already up this year and that’s a good sign that not only is our business going from strength to strength, but also that the economy is improving somewhat and more people are managing to get away on holiday. We can’t wait to see what this year holds for us.”