Travel Counsellors has attracted 16 new corporate and leisure agents for the first full trading week of January to coincide with peaks.
The latest cohort follows more than 300 people who started their new businesses with Travel Counsellors in the last 12 months.
Within this, the company has seen a 20% year-on-year increase in joiners from other industries, such as education, sports, the NHS and the police force.
The latest intake came as Travel Counsellors also reported 15% sales growth in December over the same month the previous year. This represented the best ever December in the company’s 30-year history.
Director of franchise sales Matt Harding said: “We’re delighted to welcome this week’s new business owners, who between them bring a wealth of leisure and corporate travel experience, showcasing decades of tenure in the travel industry.
“We’ll be supporting them with the digital tools, personal technology platform and wraparound care to not only kickstart their new venture, but enable them to be the travel entrepreneur they aspire to be. Each and every one is taking a customer-first approach, working to show care to their customers and clients, creating a loyal and returning client base that supports personal business growth.”
Sally Strang, who has returned after a five year hiatus, said: “With the start of a new year, it feels like the perfect time to refocus and dedicate myself fully to my clients.
“I’m passionate about providing a personal, concierge-style service, especially during such a busy time in travel. The flexibility to work in a way that’s always accessible to my clients is a huge benefit.”
A major factor in her decision to return was the company’s Phenix technology platform.
“Phenix allows me to create truly bespoke travel itineraries and gives me more control over my business. This was a game changer for me,” Strang said.