How do homeworkers stay in contact with their colleagues and clients? Katie McGonagle finds out
We live in a world that’s more connected than ever – between phone, email, instant messaging, video calls and social media, there are so many ways to stay in touch with your most valuable contacts.
But how do you keep those networks going when you’re working from home and your main lifeline to the industry is through a laptop and Wi-Fi router?
Whether it’s keeping your current client list up to date, renewing supplier relationships at a conference after-party, forging fresh connections at a roadshow or simply comparing notes with colleagues, you might have to work a little harder to stay connected, but it’s always worth the effort.
Home and away
Despite what the name suggests, homeworkers don’t necessarily spend all their time at home. For some, the draw is that you can base yourself anywhere at any time, adopting a digital nomad lifestyle. But for those who don’t fancy living on the move, staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected with others.
The Personal Travel Agents, part of Co-op Travel, holds regular ‘Big PTA Work Togethers’ around the country, where agents can bring their laptops and work alongside one another in the same room for the day, allowing them to talk in person and share advice.
Team meet-ups are also encouraged at Hays Travel. Cherie Richards, head of business development, says: “Working at home can be lonely, so we have regular catch-ups and encourage our members to connect with each other, so they also have a peer network to turn to. We fly many members of our homeworking division to an annual conference so they can meet us, our suppliers and each other in person.”
Conference calls
Hays Travel isn’t the only agency to hold an annual conference – this is a yearly fixture in many homeworkers’ calendars. Some are long established, such as Travel Counsellors’ get-together – which last year brought some 1,750 agents and more than 200 suppliers together in Manchester – while more recent additions include the inaugural conference for Personal Travel Consultants in partnership with Blue Bay Travel held in November 2023.
“Agents love our annual conference to further build their knowledge, gain recognition and rewards, and meet fellow colleagues and partners – while having fun!” says Tricia Handley-Hughes, UK and Ireland managing director of InteleTravel, which is holding its conference in Sorrento this year.
“There’s a full calendar of virtual and live events, including dedicated specialist events such as luxury and cruise, from which agents can benefit and still work around their everyday life.”
There are also networking opportunities at smaller-scale events and fam trips. Not Just Travel’s elite-level consultants can enjoy two luxury overseas trips a year, while cruise division members can attend seminars at sea, which have brought 400 cruise consultants on board Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises ships in the past 18 months for more learning opportunities.
“These are not simply educational trips that you might see from other operators,” says Paul Harrison, co-founder of Not Just Travel. “We invest more in coaching and business development, in classroom time and experiences to help our consultants grow their businesses.
“Operators who have supported us have seen significant increases in sales from the participating consultants, which is why so many want to repeat the experiences.”
“I work from an office, which allows my clients to come and see me”
Merv Bates, travel associate, Travel Four Seasons
“Travel Four Seasons has a beautiful concierge-style store in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, then a few of us dotted around the country. I live in the Cotswolds and have built a loyal base over the years, with many repeat customers.
“I work from a lovely office, which allows my clients to come and see me and spend time chatting through their plans over a cuppa. As a business, we have regular Teams and Zoom meetings and quite often we’ll have a supplier spend time with us, then we all get together at least once a quarter.
“I love having the freedom to work when and where I want. I was recently on a fam trip on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot and booked my clients’ honeymoon while sailing from Brest [in Brittany] to Reykjavik, all from my stateroom with a view of the ocean. You can’t do that on the high street!”
“I start ahead of UK time and stay on top of urgent tasks”
Carol Lewis, Travel Counsellors
“The freedom to work from anywhere is incredible. Over the past three years, I’ve worked from Bali, the Nusa Islands, Gili Islands, Thailand and Malaysia.
“It’s so motivating to wake up to stunning views and immerse myself in diverse cultures, while serving my clients. It’s been a game changer, allowing me to explore different parts of the world in different time zones. I start my day ahead of UK time and stay on top of urgent tasks, although it sometimes means working late nights.
“Having first-hand experience allows me to provide personalised recommendations, insider tips and accurate information, which builds trust with my clients.
“There are also challenges – it requires discipline, access to reliable internet and a conducive work environment. Overall, it has not only enhanced my credibility with clients, but also enriched my travel experiences, allowing me to serve my clients better.”
PICTURES: Shutterstock/PeopleImages.com – Yuri A
Click here to read the 2024 edition of the Guide to Homeworking.