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Redundancy leads to more travel agents going it alone
Travel Counsellors says the number of new franchisees joining the homeworking company has returned to pre-Covid levels, with one new business owner signing up every working day in August.
It said it has seen a notable increase in enquiries and new members with corporate travel experience, with many looking to set up their own businesses after being made redundant.
There is also an ongoing uplift in interest from independent travel agencies with ‘bricks and mortar’ stores, said Travel Counsellors, and from travel management companies with teams of less than 10 staff.
Travel Counsellors Corporate MD Kieran Hartwell said, "We know it’s a very difficult time for many people in the industry, and the situation is fuelling a growing trend towards independent consultants and micro TMCs being formed from teams of people who are facing an uncertain future.
"With many people much more accustomed to working remotely over recent months the opportunity is both desirable and familiar, but they’re also discovering that they can work remotely in duos, trios and teams, employ assistants or migrate their high street store to a flexible working model whilst sharing our commitment to care, and looking after a loyal leisure and corporate customer base nurtured over many years."
New Travel Counsellors launching leisure travel businesses in July and August have shifted their immediate focus to Greece and Turkey, with both destinations seeing a 70% increase in bookings made by franchisees over the same period last year.
For the coming winter, bookings to Mexico and the Maldives are both 85% up year on year, added Travel Counsellors.
The company has adapted its induction training for new Travel Counsellors to deliver interactive sessions via webcam, enabling new business owners to virtually ‘meet’ with fellow franchisees and members of the company’s support team.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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