David McDonald, managing director of Blackpool-based World Travel Lounge, said the launch of the new division had been brought forward to tap into the travel talent available after “recent restructuring across the industry”.
In recent weeks the sector has seen the collapse of Diamond Shortbreak Holidays as well as the announcement of Thomas Cook store closures.
McDonald, who is part of the current intake of TTG’s 30 Under 30, said his business, which already comprises three stores in the northwest, was looking for “established travel professionals” who had worked at store manager level and were keen to “take the next step” and launch their own agency.
He said World Travel Lounge would provide a “pre-packaged solution” for them to begin trading start away.
“It’s about offering a helping hand as they begin running their own business and giving them all the support they’ll need starting out,” McDonald told TTG.
Franchisees will pay a one-off joining fee to World Travel Lounge and in return will receive their own fully fitted store – a perk which McDonald said he believed no other consortia were currently offering.
After they begin trading, franchisees will pay a monthly management fee and be sent marketing materials, with their administrative duties done for them by head office.
McDonald said franchised stores would also automatically join the Midcounties Co-operative consortium, of which World Travel Lounge is a member.
The agency launched a dedicated webpage last week for would-be franchisees to register their interest.
“There’s a lot of talk these days that the high street is dead, but it really isn’t,” said McDonald. “We’re opening new stores and taking as much money as competitors who have been around a lot longer than we have.
“It feels really exciting for us to be able to offer someone their own business.”
McDonald said World Travel Lounge was hoping to secure “around a dozen” franchised stores within the next two years.
He added that the agency would be “flexible” to expanding to other locations in the UK if the right candidates applied to become franchisees.
