Duke Travel, the travel company started up by local marketing firm Duke, brought over 3,100 visitors to this year’s TT compared to 850 who travelled with them last year.

The firm says that the uptake on its travel and accommodation packages was greater than expected and they are especially pleased that 80% were first-time visitors.

Backed by the Travel Trust Association’s financial guarantee, travellers came from as far afield as Canada, Thailand, Brazil, Australia, USA, New Zealand and China, as well as from all across Britain and Ireland.

They bought a wide range of holiday packages ranging from top island hotels to glamping or just space at selected temporary campsites.

Duke chief executive Peter Duke says that he credits the big increase to ’the company’s marketing strength, especially our websites, and the databases built up over 30 years by Duke in selling Manx products to motorsport fans worldwide’. He added: ’Our partnership with Motorsport Network has also enabled Duke to promote the TT to a massive new audience of ’powersport’ fans.’

This was also the first year for Duke’s new pop-up hotel, IOMTT Village, and the feedback and interest was said to be extremely positive.The project was a big investment for Duke, with 27 lorryloads of accommodation units shipped to and from the island by local hauliers Manx Independent Carriers to turn the vision to reality.

Located at Victoria Road close by the paddock area, the 100 twin-bed room hotel required major groundworks and new utility connections to prepare the old prison site for the pre-erected units and catering marquee.

With the cooperation of the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Home Affairs, Duke aims to bring the IOMTT Village back for TT 2020 and advance interest in booking for next year’s event is ’very strong’ according to Duke Travel manager Richard Howarth.

As well as IOMTT Village, Duke Travel works with some of the Isle of Man’s hotels and created bespoke guided-tour packages for a number of high-profile guests who wanted to enjoy the TT.

The growth of ’experiences’ at the TT was also catered for by Duke with coach laps of the course hosted by riders including James Hillier, Horst Saiger and Peter Hickman proving extremely popular.

Duke thanked Peter and James for the time they took to spend with fans at the Comis Hotel at their ’Evening with’ events, despite the rearranged schedule meaning both events took place the night before major races.