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Fancy working in the travel industry? workingmums.co.uk gives an overview and talks to one innovative travel franchise which is very much focused on work life balance, and helps franchisees set themselves up as a home based travel agent.
Depending on the role you are interested in, there are different entry routes to becoming a home-based travel agent. You can work your way up or study for specialist qualifications, such as a degree or BTEC in travel and tourism, or enter through other specialisms such as accountancy and PR.
There is some degree of flexibility offered in the industry, depending on the job you are interested in. A recent report by the Institution of Travel and Tourism found that travel agents and tour operators are in line with other industries when it comes to offering flexible working, particularly part-time working.
Out of 85 travel companies interviewed, 48% offered staff the chance to work part time, 27% allowed staff to use flexitime and 12% offered the chance to take a career break or sabbatical.
The report said companies who measure the results found that flexible working had a positive effect on staff motivation, customer services, staff retention and productivity.
They also saw benefits in their recruitment processes and fewer staff absences. The report said that flexible working could particularly help companies who were facing tough economic times and give them the agility they needed to cope with the financial turbulence.
If you have a love of holidays and the area you live in, then this is the perfect business for you. Work around your family life and other commitments or if you want to jump right in full time, we have a fabulous package of support for you.
One company which believes flexible and family friendly working can help its bottom line is Travel Counsellors.
They were a very early adopter of homeworking. The company has 730 travel consultants in the UK who are all home-based and operate as franchisees.
It also has 180 salaried staff in its HQ in Bolton and has around 450 travel agents outside the UK in Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and Canada and 47 salaried staff in its head offices in those countries.
The award-winning company was set up in 1994 as a company for home-based travel consultants after the owner David Speakman was inspired by a book by futurologist Faith Popcorn which talked about the growth of homeworking and the growing power of women as decision makers in households.
“He put the two ideas together and came up with the idea of a home-based personalised travel service,” says Steve Byrne, managing director of Travel Consultants.
If a consultant has previous experience in the travel industry they pay just £295 for the franchise and get to keep up to 60% of the commission on a booking.
Travel Counsellors provides administrative help and support. For those with no previous experience in the business the charge is higher as it involves full training.
They pay £10K and go through the company’s travel academy. Those applying for this only need an interest in travel and people skills, although Speakman says there is a selection process to make sure they get the right people for the job.
In return, the company gives a lot of support to help people – most of their agents are women – balance work and family life.
This includes innovative programmes like TC Teens, which provides exam support for the teenage children of franchisees.
Working with a specialist company which has experience in over 20 schools the company provides webcasts via its Travel Counsellors TV channel which help improve children’s exam success. Another programme it offers staff is TC Kids.
Most of its franchisees are working mums and to help them work at holiday times the company provides a series of activities for them to do via webcasts.
It also has a TC Partners scheme whereby partners of agents can do a free training day with the company to learn how to give more support to franchisees and spread the word about what they are doing.
“Partners provide an important role in supporting franchisees and we want to help them be successful,” says Byrne.
“It can be daunting working on a commission basis and from home if you are not used to it.” The scheme was suggested by a travel counsellor.
“We are a values-based company,” says Byrne. “There’s a lot of focus in the current market on the harder aspects of business, such as results, which are important, but we also focus on the softer issues.
We try to give our counsellors the support they need to be as successful as possible, such as training and development and family support.”
Byrne wants to build on these support programmes and get counsellors to interact more with each other and form stronger relationships.
Byrne says the economic downturn creates winners and losers in every business and tends to “polarise” where people are. “If people are looking to buy on price, then that’s one thing. But price is not the only thing people are focused on.
People want value for money. If they don’t feel the value they will just focus on price because that is all they have,” he says.
He adds: “We provide good value and make our customers feel looked after and that the family experience is important. Our counsellors develop relationships with their customers and know what is right for them.”
It’s a personal touch which at times can extend to helping families out in a crisis. Last year, for instance, when there was the ash cloud, one counsellor drove to France to pick up a family.
“It’s all about being customer-focused, whether that is to help families going on holiday, short theatre breaks, cruises or organising business trips for companies,” says Byrne. Our customers want to feel looked after by someone they trust.”
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Comments [21]
S&C says:
Hi,
Does anyone set up the business yet?
Jimmy says:
Yes I did last in November 2019.
Omar says:
Hi, I am thinking of starting online travel agent and apply for IATA licence in order to sell airline tickets globally.
therefore could you please advise on the following questions.
1.If i get IATA licence does that mean i can sell all airline ticket without getting contract from each airline before i can sell their flight?
2.if i get GDS system like Amadeus and i have my IATA license can I again sell the flights of all the airlines on Amadeus or do I still have to get contract from each airline before i can sell their tickets?
3. If i have amadeus gds system and i am not allowed to sell the flights on their system without agreement with each individual airline, then who is allowed to book those airline tickets which are displayed on amadeus selling platform?
thank you
Mandy Garner says:
Hi,
You will need to contact travel industry experts on these questions. Try http://www.itt.co.uk/
Darren Scott says:
I want to become am online travel agent. Please send me information needed. My brother is a web developer so i csn build a website in days ready to go
Mandy Garner says:
Hi Darren,
The information we have is in the article so you would need to contact the links in this.
stephenie says:
wanted to go through this my self
but too expensive
it might be ok for u
best wishs
Jimmy says:
There are cheaper options available now, if you are still looking.
Michelle Stoton says:
I have previous experience as over seas rep for My Travel some years ago – but looking to become a home based T/A. I have ran my own business for over 10 years and have good sales and people skills….
Could i have more info please.
Mandy Garner says:
Hi Michelle,
You need to contact them direct.
Best wishes.
Nicola says:
I am really interested in becoming a travel agent from home. I don’t have any previous experience. What would be my first steps into this career change please?
Mandy Garner says:
Hi, The article gives advice on different entry routes. You could also contact the ITT’s career pages – http://www.itt.co.uk/faq/careers.php – and you could contact some of the travel agencies that offer home-based work. One is listed in the article, but there are several others, such as Independent Travel Experts. If you register with our free jobs newsletter, you can specify that you want to be notified about home-based opportunities in the travel industry.
Ahmed says:
I will be thankful to hear the steps to be taken to become a travel agent to work from home.
Aksenia Dimitrova says:
Hi everyone
How i xan start working as a travel agent from home?
Mandy Garner says:
Hi,
You could try the institute linked on this article to see if they know which agencies are home-based or try a search. There are several listed, including the one mentioned here and The Travel Franchise.
Virtual Assistants says:
Well Virtual Assistants from 20four7va are growing fast and clients keep coming in simply because of affordable va’s the company has.
Shantanu says:
I want to start my own independent airline ticketing business from home neeed some guidance. ihave 3 years experience in the Airline Industry.I have over 10 years experience in the customer services and hospitality.
sg says:
Hi Shantanu have u managed to set this up?
Suleha Begum says:
hello
are you still interested in this area, as I may be able to help.
Ahmed says:
Hi Suleha
Will you please tell me the steps you have to take to become a travel agent and work from home.
Thank you
Ahmed
stephenie says:
try this