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Protected Trust Services (PTS) has passed a milestone 500 independent members after welcoming 96 new travel businesses to its trust model so far this year.
The consortium now supports 511 member businesses representing 3,088 individual users, up from just 41 members and five staff when managing director Emma Collis joined the organisation in 2018.
To accommodate its expanding 40-strong team – which includes 12 in-house technology developers – PTS has relocated its headquarters to a new facility in Westbourne, Bournemouth, and opened a second operational base in Sunderland city centre.
Of the total membership, 167 businesses currently hold Franchise Atols, with member profiles ranging from independent high street travel agencies and specialist tour operators to homeworking divisions spanning up to 328 agents.
Collis, who was promoted to managing director in December, said the expansion reflects the company’s focus on adaptable support and member-led software development rather than rigid corporate structures.
“When I joined PTS in 2018, my role was to take new members through the onboarding process,” Collis said. “Today, PTS has reached 511 independent members, supported by a team of 40 staff.
“No two members are the same, and that is exactly the point. We care about the people behind the businesses, and we do our best to adapt to what they genuinely need.
“We have never wanted to become a ‘computer says no’ organisation, where processes matter more than people.”
Collis added that ongoing investment in technology remains guided by an internal member forum, while face-to-face training has seen 87 agents attend sessions at PTS facilities so far this year.
She confirmed that leadership would remain hands-on alongside chief executive Daniel Landen.
“Daniel and I will continue to run the business in the same way we always have,” Collis added.
“We are not corporate. We are real people, working with real businesses, and we will always remain accessible, approachable and involved.”
