A luxury advisor has revealed why he chose to follow his best friend in joining a smaller business, after realising his previous provider no longer met his needs.

Moreno Intranova was inspired to become a Private Travel Designer with Elegant Resorts just a few months after a longtime friend and industry peer made the jump. 

The travel enthusiast has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, beginning his career at Crystal Holidays as an Italy specialist. Over the decades, he has built up an impressive resume, working in sales for Abercrombie & Kent before eventually moving to ITC as a client relationships manager. 

Now 50, Intranova has established himself as an elite travel professional with a global network of partners. 

But his life circumstances have also changed; now a carer for his mother, a flexible work model is essential for him to service his clients effectively. Feeling unsatisfied with his existing provider, he sought an agency that would allow him to manage his business independently while still benefiting from expert support.

“I didn't want to be completely on my own,” Moreno told TTG Luxury. “I mean, I've got friends that have gone limited, but with no backing, and I didn't really want that.”

This mindset led him to speak with his best friend, Claire Thorley, about her experience working with Elegant Resorts’ Private Travel Designers.

The luxury operator launched the programme in 2018, identifying a gap in the market for a fully bonded Atol/Abta homeworking model with strong luxury leads. 

Advisors are expected to bring their own client base and handle bookings from start to finish, but benefit from support such as 24/7 emergency care and access to concierge documentation. There’s also no compulsory sales targets, freeing advisors to develop and nurture client relationships.

Thorley joined the exclusive network last October, having decided not to return to her role at ITC after having a baby. She was drawn to Private Travel Designers for its focus on uplifting experienced travel advisors who value security and mentorship over training and micromanagement.

“There’s no one holding your hand, but that’s not what I needed,” she explained. “It’s for people who want to start up on their own, but with a safety net.”

Thorley knew that the model, which offered her the flexibility she needed as the mother of young children, would also be ideal for Intranova. He made the official move in June, and says he hasn’t looked back.

“I needed a role that would offer me total flexibility, to start my own business with the support of somebody like Elegant Resorts,” he said. “I decide my hours, when I want to work, when I don't want to work, which enables me to look after my mum as well.”

Intranova added that Thorley, whom he first met in 2017, has been instrumental in helping him make the transition.

“She was able to give me a lot of insight in terms of the support offered at Elegant Resorts,” he said. “We both did ITC where we worked really closely, and we work quite similarly. Many of our habits and traits are very alike.”

The pair also support each other’s clients in cases of emergency, with Thorley admitting: “We don’t trust anyone else with them!”

For Thorley and Intranova, one of the most rewarding aspects of working with Private Travel Designers is the respect shown for their opinions – something they hadn’t always experienced in previous companies.

“You have a voice at Elegant,” Thorley said, citing a recent example where she introduced a villa company to the team’s Europe product manager. “She worked behind the scenes and got them set up to be a supplier for the main Elegant Resorts now as well, which is good because we only had space for the really high-end fillers.”

This culture of openness is echoed by Sally Rushbrooke, support manager for the Private Travel Designers.

“We welcome ideas,” she said. “We're quite a close-knit team and we all come with different experiences and knowledge, so it's really good to be able to put those into practice when they work.”

Both Intranova and Thorley are now looking forward to growing their businesses, with the hope of working more closely with each other in the near future.

“Obviously, Claire and I are very good friends, and it's also about that trust that we had previously and the trust moving forward,” Intranova said. “We speak to each other for advice, and ultimately, we want to work together on events because she’s not that far from me either. That’s something we want to capitalise on.”