THE trend for booking increasingly exotic and more frequent holidays has paid dividends for a travel company formed by a Tyldesley man.

Travel Counsellors has unveiled record turnover and pre-tax profits of £2 million after a year of growth in the UK and abroad.

The company sells package holidays, flights, cruises, accommodation and car hire through a network of home-based travel agents.

The company recruited 130 agents in the year to October 31 to take its total to 560.

Most are based in the UK but the company has taken on 10 in Ireland and four in Holland in new ventures.

The company also employs 110 people at its head office in Churchgate.

Steve Byrne, managing director of Travel Counsellors, said the firm is looking at two other countries for expansion over the next 12 months.

Full-year sales for the company grew from £127 million to £150.4 million, while pre-tax profits rose from £1.65 million to £2 million.

This year, Travel Counsellors made bookings for almost 185,000 tourists, up from 170,000 in 2003-04.

Its customers spent an average of £1,523 compared to £1,390 the previous year.

Mr Byrne said that the trend for travelling more often and taking more long-haul, bespoke holidays had had a big impact.

He said: "People are becoming more discerning, booking four or five-star hotels and premium air travel.

"Generally, people's expectations are rising as they travel further and more frequently, and have more disposable income."

The most popular destinations from Manchester Airport were Florida, Barbados and Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. But Dubai, Mexico, Turkey and Cyprus also saw strong growth.

Mr Byrne said that the company is expecting turnover to rise to more than £180 million this year.

The new figures are the latest chapter in a success story that has taken Travel Counsellors founder David Speakman from small shop owner to major player in the travel industry.

Mr Speakman grew up in Tyldesley and embarked on a number of business ventures.

He founded Travel Counsellors in January, 1994, with four staff.

The idea was that people could book their holidays from their own home, and the new company would have low overheads because agents would be working from home on commission-based income.

Mr Speakman has always been clear about his business ethos.

"It's not about having the biggest business, or the most money - it's about having the best. You don't have people working from home because it's cheaper, but because your business is out there with the customers. You are talking to them on their terms, and that is why they come back.

"We employ the best. We expect the best. We work hard to motivate our agents, explain how they can get more business. It's about personal service."