A number of luxury agents have shared their top three tips for people interested in joining Travel Counsellors, after successfully starting their own franchises with the company.
The UK’s largest homeworking travel agency hosted its Annual Conference at the ACC Liverpool at the weekend, welcoming more than 2,000 members of its community for three days of business development sessions, supplier networking and of course, entertainment from A-list performers.
The event also provided a platform for agents who had recently joined the company or achieved a milestone in their careers to share their experiences - both positive and challenging - and offer advice to prospective Travel Counsellors.
Save Up
Several Travel Counsellors emphasised the importance of financial security before enrolling, especially if the individual doesn’t have a ready-made network of clients.
“Fund your first 12 months and be realistic in what you want to achieve,” said Cath Reese, who joined Travel Counsellors in January. “You’ve got to have some resilience.”
This sentiment was echoed by Leander Lynch, who became a Travel Counsellor last year after previously working as a financial controller. The Mancunian businesswoman warned advisors to manage their earning expectations and to establish ‘a good safety net’ before joining.
“The income doesn’t come flooding in straight away,” she explained. “It’s a slow burn, so you have to be committed and invested.”
Lynch, who was also recognised at the conference by Sara Davies MBE for building a strong social media presence, added that financial stability gives you the freedom to build client relationships without being “stressed about closing the sale.”
Do Your Research
With academy fees costing £5000 and commission structure split at 60/40, joining Travel Counsellors is not a commitment to be made lightly. Many advisors thoroughly researched the programme before enrolling, fully aware that it requires a significant investment of both time and money.
Suvira Riza, who realised she wanted to join Travel Counsellors after attending one of its Discovery Days, encouraged interested candidates to familiarise themselves with the company as much as possible before making the leap. The Birmingham-based agent, who also spoke about her past experiences alongside Lynch and Davies, highlighted the value of “interacting with the brand and attend the webinars.”
“Try and qualify yourself out, and if you can’t think of a reason why you shouldn’t join, then join,” she added.
Evaluate Your Skills
While all personality types are welcome at Travel Counsellors, there is one particular trait that stands out as an indicator of long-term success.
Sarah McCarthy, who was named Top Performing Travel Counsellor for Ireland at the awards ceremony on Saturday evening, believes her “endless patience” for clients is fundamental to the longevity of her brand. She also highlights the importance of having passion for planning travel, calling the career “an absolute vocation.”
Charlotte Helstrom agreed that patience is essential to building a successful franchise, having recently become a Gold Travel Counsellor after 16 years.
When asked for advice on achieving high sales, she emphasised the power of perseverance and making “small changes.”
“Keep going, even if you don’t think you’re going to make Gold, just make small changes like adding an extra percentage onto a booking year,” she said. “You might not think you want it but when you are that close to getting it you really, really want it. Worst case scenario, even if you don’t get it, you’re giving yourself a pay rise!”
