Designer Travel held its annual conference at Ikos Andalusia
market. The company now reports a network of more than 19,000 agents across the UK and Ireland. UK managing director Tricia Handley-Hughes told Travel Weekly that key milestones for the company included gaining Abta membership in 2019 and an Atol licence in 2021, with many suppliers now acting as ‘ambassadors’ to change perceptions. It hasn’t all been plain sailing this year
though, with the collapse of Luxury Holidays and Honeymoons in February, although the “large majority” of its 123 agents have reportedly found roles elsewhere.
INDUSTRY INNOVATIONS The homeworking sector is ripe for innovation. Travel Counsellors invested more than £10 million into digital platform Phenix in 2023, with a further £15 million planned this year including the acquisition of travel technology platform Planisto, which enables agents to create complex bespoke itineraries. It was just the second acquisition in the company’s history, after taking over Holidaysplease in March 2023. One year later, around 90% of the former brand’s 100 agents remain within the Travel Counsellors ‘umbrella’, although only around 30 were still trading under the Holidaysplease name. There are lots of roles that fall under the
term ‘homeworking’, including the ‘virtual call centre’ model embodied by Travel Solutions Network since its launch in 2022. Chief
travelweekly.co.uk
operating officer Lindsey Winterburn says: “We are growing rapidly, working on behalf of several travel businesses including easyJet holidays and Thomas Cook. We work as a seamless extension to their call centre. We recruit experienced, home-based agents who can choose the hours they work in our virtual call centre on behalf of brand partners, while at the same time we can provide them with the tools to operate and service their own travel business.” Innovations go beyond just the
technological sphere, though, with sales tools such as Designer Travel’s new Fab Bank, announced at its conference in Andalusia in May, offering a way for the company’s agents to share tips with each other on the best restaurants, resorts and activities so they can stand out as true travel experts.
a£4,535
value for GoCruise & Travel’s franchisees
A BRIGHT FUTURE? The rise of homeworking seems all but assured – and many in the industry agree. Travelosophers head of sales Nisha Bean says: “The homeworking sector will continue to grow as many people want a work-life balance. More clients are looking for that personal touch, be it meeting after office hours or just being able to call the same person all the time.” With some agents hitting six-figure incomes,
t£10,000he amount Inspire says its highest- earning agents can take home each month
employing their own staff or renting office space, the sector looks set to evolve further. “Homeworking will get bigger and stronger than retail,” says Paul Harrison, co-founder of Not Just Travel and The Travel Franchise. “If you combine great deals, incredible service and entrepreneurial drive, it’s hugely powerful. We intend to help make our agents more competitive, via relationships with key trade partners, so we believe the homeworking sector is one to watch!” Q
JULY 2024 5
verage booking
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