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InteleTravel membership ‘booms’ during Covid
InteleTravel says membership has boomed during the pandemic and the homeworking company now has 10,556 members throughout the UK and the Channel Islands.
In the five months from 1 March and 31 July, InteleTravel signed 4,000 agents.
The company is on target for a record £25m of travel sales from the UK in 2020, up from £12m last year, in its first full year of trading.
A focus on training and education with over 60 suppliers, including a course entitled ‘Selling Skills for Groups’, resulted in travel sales of £8m from June to August.
InteleTravel founder and president James Ferrara said the figures were a vindication of its business model and he was proud to offer people new careers during the current crisis.
"During this pandemic we have seen an energetic enrollment of new agents," he said.
"We’ve been bolstered by travel industry professionals who have seen their opportunities limited, but we’re also bringing new people into the market from outside travel. Our suppliers respect and like this strategy.
"This crisis has given people cause to reassess their priorities and opened their minds to new options. Many now want the quality of life that comes with working from home and not trudging into an office every day and that’s part of why we are experiencing a boom."
Ferrara said an attraction for new recruits was that they incurred little risk by joining InteleTravel. Agents pay a sign-up fee of £142 and a monthly membership fee of £32 to access its commercial rates, booking technology and back office support. However, this lower entry cost requires an ongoing rigorous training and testing programme.
"We offer people a soft landing, the ability to own their own business for a low cost. That’s something that should be applauded, particularly in this climate," he added.
"Our agents have been called hobbyists as some kind of insult. We embrace the term. It celebrates the flexibility that allows you to choose to work on a Saturday morning or seven days a week and every shade in between if you wish.
"Of course, you can be part-time and still be ethical, professional, have quality control and be trained. We offer the best training available in the industry."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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