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Travel Counsellors gains foothold in US
Home working travel agency Travel Counsellors is expanding into the US, where there are thought to be 40,000 agents working from home.
The company aims to sign up 100 home-based agents in its first year of business.
The company, which has been planning the move for a year, has received a licence to sell travel in the state of Florida and established an advisory council which includes six home-based agents.
The first group of US-based staff began training on the company’s intranet booking system this week in Orlando.
Travel Counsellors in the US is being headed by Graeme Clarke, formerly CEO of World Key Agency Group and online travel company Digital Travel. He has also held senior positions at Carlson Travel Group and American Express.
Managing director Steve Byrne said: Byrne added: “The building of a truly international company will benefit each and every Travel Counsellor, enabling us to build our purchasing power with suppliers, get better commercial deals and enrich the choice and content of holidays we offer. We will create a truly international network of support for the very best agents worldwide.
“Expanding into the US makes a lot of sense for us. It is not a new concept as there is already a mature homeworking market there, but there is a gap in the market for professional agents working from home as part of a worldwide international network.
“We have a unique ethos and approach which will bring something different to the market and obviously the country’s size, while a great challenge, is also a fantastic opportunity for us.”
The company, which has more than 640 home working agents and 110 support staff at its Bolton head office, will insist that all its consultants have both the Certified Travel Counsellor and Master Cruise Counsellor qualifications or have pledged to obtain both within 12 months. A training programme has been established with The Travel Institute and Cruise Lines International Association to help agents obtain the qualifications. Less then one per cent of all agents in the US have both qualifications, according to Travel Counsellors.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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