TRAVEL MATTERS YOUR STORIES


Advisors and ambassadors sought TOP NEWS:


BBC journalist Stephen Sackur with, from left, Travel Matters’ Catherine Gallagher, Monika Markowska, Dee Gibson, Karen Simmonds and Elisa Spampinato


Independent agency Travel Matters is to launch a new team of remote advisors and ambassadors after achieving B Corp certification. Karen Simmonds, who founded the London-based agency in 1999, says she intended to recruit a group of self-employed agents three years ago as a way of scaling the business, but the pandemic put plans on pause. “When we got the B Corp, it made sense to reassess that and try and relaunch it,” she says. “We’re looking for people that love travelling, researching or planning holidays but, equally, we’re looking for ambassadors that really understand the values of what it is to work for a travel B Corp.” Simmonds says advisors, who will


have their own network of clients and be able to put holidays together, will be offered a higher commission cut, while ambassadors will operate on a referral


service and receive a lower commission. Simmonds says she wants to focus


on recruiting the right people rather than targeting a certain team size, and is open to those without experience of selling travel. “Primarily, for the last 24 years,


we’ve relied on word of mouth for the business and having a local market, but with everyone now used to hybrid working, it means we can attract customers from anywhere, as opposed to just southwest London.” Travel Matters achieved B Corp status


in May after answering 226 questions about its social and environmental standards, with local resident and BBC journalist Stephen Sackur visiting the agency to offer his congratulations. “It doesn’t matter how small you are,


you can have a big voice,” Simmonds says. “I’ve realised that even at a micro level you can help effect change.”


DESIGNER TRAVEL


Agency recruits Victory for business development role


Designer Travel has recruited Di Victory for the newly created role of business development and social media manager. The agency’s owners, Amanda


Matthews and Karen Pocock, say her appointment comes as the growth of their homeworking business “steps up another gear”. Victory (pictured) will work alongside head of sales Darren Bien and business development manager Beth Palmer, who joined in January. Pocock says: “Providing our


network of associates with the tools to help them grow their businesses is such an important part of what we do. “It’s not just about training and


development, it’s about innovation and playing to the strength of each team member. We want to enthuse associates with the work that we undertake centrally, both in terms of general marketing and via social media channels, giving them the confidence to be more creative when it comes to navigating their way forward.” Victory


spent three years at Holidaysplease, following stints at Jetset and Flight Centre.


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


JUNE 2023 ASPIRE


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