Retail travel agencies in the United Kingdom
In the UK, there are several types of retail travel agents, referred to as multiples, miniples, or independents. Multiples are large companies operating a chain of retail outlets, the major player being TUI. In 2022, the annual revenue of TUI UK Limited, part of the German-based tourism group TUI AG, added up to nearly 4.9 billion British pounds, roughly three percent lower than in 2019.On the other hand, miniples and independents refer to companies with a smaller number of branches, in some cases only operating in one town, region, or niche markets such as luxury travel or ski holidays. It is common for many small and independent agencies to join a consortium, where collectively they can compete with the bigger market players. Advantage Travel Partnership is one of the largest consortia in the country, with around 300 travel shops as of June 2023. As of that month, it ranked third, behind Hays Travel and TUI, in the list of the leading travel agencies in the United Kingdom based on the number of stores.
