What prompted you to launch Winged Boots For Agents now, and what are you seeing in terms of demand from travel agents for specialist luxury partners?
Winged Boots For Agents felt like a natural next step for the group. We already have an established and successful trade business through Ocean Florida, so we understand the travel agent market and the importance of building trusted relationships.
At the same time, agents were asking to work with Winged Boots. We saw an opportunity to bring our luxury expertise, supplier relationships and high-touch service to the trade. With complex luxury product, the service has to match – so we’ve built the proposition around experienced people, 360-degree journey management and concierge-level support.
What types of enquiries are agents bringing to you?
It’s the once-in-a-lifetime, extraordinary enquiries where we really come into our own. Clients are looking for something genuinely unique and personalised – whether that’s a complex multi-centre itinerary, private jet, yacht charter, luxury safari, milestone celebration or an experience that simply can’t be booked online.
Often, there are lots of moving parts. Our role is to bring them all together seamlessly and use our experience and relationships to create something truly out of the ordinary.
What does Winged Boots For Agents offer that an agent might not get from a more traditional luxury tour operator?
We’ve spent years servicing high-value clients, so we understand the level of flexibility, responsiveness and attention to detail this market demands. We’re not a self-service platform; we become an extension of the agent’s team.
Our 360-degree approach means we can manage the whole journey, while our concierge team takes care of the details that make it exceptional.
Crucially, our longstanding relationships with hotels, airlines, DMCs and other partners give us the access and flexibility to find solutions when a request is anything but straightforward.
You mention that the sales team has a minimum of 10 years’ experience in luxury travel. How important is that specialist knowledge when handling complex or high-value enquiries?
It’s incredibly important. We have 27 people within the business who are extremely well-travelled, and every sales enquiry is handled by a dedicated travel manager with at least 10 years’ luxury travel experience. That knowledge gives us the confidence and judgement to find solutions when something isn’t straightforward.
For example, when a VIP client wanted a particular supercar in Crete and none were available on the island, we sourced one in Athens and transported it across. That sums up our approach: we’re solution-led and always look for a way to make it happen. Nothing is impossible.
How will Winged Boots For Agents build on the experience of Ocean Florida Trade, which now accounts for a third of the group’s revenue?
Ocean Florida Trade has taught us just how important relationships, trust and partnership are. Agents need to know that when they place an enquiry with you, you understand their client and you’re going to deliver.
We’re bringing that same philosophy to Winged Boots For Agents. At the luxury end of the market, where agents may be trusting us with some of their most valuable client relationships, that becomes even more important. We want to be a genuine extension of their business, not simply another supplier.
What do you want to become for travel agents?
We want to become the go-to partner for complex luxury enquiries – when something unusual or ambitious lands on an agent’s desk, we want their instinct to be “This is one for Winged Boots.” Commercial growth will naturally be important but repeat business will be one of our strongest measures of success.
If an agent trusts us with an important client, has a great experience and comes back with their next high-value enquiry, we know we’re building the kind of long-term partnership we set out to create.
