ALL ABOUT YOU — READERS’ LIVES
THIS WEEK
Daniel Radnor owner
LookitBookit.com, Manchester LCRUISE
Passion for cruising inspires young entrepreneur
Setting up a cruise travel agency on your own is a daunting task, even for those with experience of the industry or other business background. But Daniel Radnor was only 19 when he quit his university business degree,
desperate to get into the working world. “I just got itchy feet,” he admits. His only experience of travel was his family holidays – many of which were cruises – and he had also kept track of events in the industry because of his interest in the sector. “I just knew it was the business I wanted to go into,” says Daniel, now 21. “The
biggest challenge was my age and getting the backing I needed to set up an agency.” He founded cruise agency
LookitBookit.com in March 2012 and launched it officially
in November 2012. He must have done something right – he was voted Young Agent of the Year at the Clia UK and Ireland 2013 Excellence Awards in September. “I didn’t have the foggiest idea that I would win but it has really helped me to become better known as a company,” he adds. Daniel’s first hurdle was finding a consortium and getting financial backing. “I had done my research and the Travel Trust Association was my first choice
because it provides a lot of support to new businesses. It took four or five months and then I went to the bank for a loan. After that it was a case of getting myself known and networking,” says Daniel, whose father is also a successful business owner. Since then Daniel has taken on three members of staff at a rented office in central Manchester. The online agency sells 20 cruise lines, with most clients calling to book. Daniel’s innovative approach – he looks to sell holidays through channels not known
for selling cruise, such as deal websites – has already helped the business progress and earn its recent accolade from Clia. “For me, it’s better to invest in markets that are not already saturated and we are looking at other areas like this,” says Daniel. But he admits it’s not been
Daniel’s CV
●2013: winner, Young Travel Agent of the Year, Clia UK and Ireland Awards
●2012 to date: owner,
LookitBookit.com, Manchester
●2010 started degree in international business, Birmingham University
easy. “It’s been harder than I thought and I’ve only just had my first holiday since starting the business. It’s seven days a week and I can’t ever switch off – it’s my business and we are still in our infancy.”
Would you like to be profiled on Readers’ Lives? Email:
juliet.dennis@
travelweekly.co.uk
44 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 16 January 2014
✪ Find out which organisations and consortia are the best to support your new venture.
✪ Network and talk to cruise lines. You will be surprised by the amount of support you will get back from suppliers.
✪ Do your research – but be aware that real knowledge only comes from doing the job.
✪ Don’t start a business if you are not passionate about it and about the product.
✪ Travel is not a 9-to-5 job and if you own your own business you can never switch off totally.
✪ Never presume you know it all. There’s always more to learn.
Daniel is congratulated on his Clia award by Andrew Say of sponsor Mail Newspapers
DANIEL’S TIPS FOR SETTING UP A BUSINESS
✪ The only thing stopping you from setting up a business is you.
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