Avocet Travel Management was formed in February 2014 by ex-Travel Counsellor Neil Mewes and is part of Tzell UK.
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It currently has a dozen homeworkers, but Mewes is hoping to have between 25-30 within the next 12 months.
Tzell UK has 70 other independent agencies in the UK under the Travel Leaders UK brand and provides bonding and licensing for them and for Avocet’s agents. It is among the top 50 UK travel management companies.
Agents working under the Avocet banner had previously all worked in business travel, specialising in niches such as the fashion and music industries and medical evacuation, but Mewes said he was now on the hunt for leisure agents with similar specialisms.
“We are currently 75% business, but I think leisure will take off in the next couple of months, it’s the big area of growth. We would like to be 50/50 business and leisure.”
He added however that expansion would be gradual: “I don’t suddenly want 40-50 people and not be able to cope.”
Mewes said he was “not averse” to the idea of high street stores signing up as independent agencies, but said most of his leisure customers came to him because of internet information overload.
He added: “I think the high street is at the bottom of the decline and it will come back up.”
Agents wanting to join Avocet (or Tzell UK) will need to bring their own clients but do not need to be UK-based – Avocet already has a member in Sharm el Sheikh.
Mewes spent eight years with Travel Counsellors before deciding to strike out on his own.
Independent agents or agencies are provided with Avocet’s software but otherwise left to run their business as they wish, with as much or as little input from the Horley head office as required. Some members, he said, were happy with a monthly call, while others wanted more support.
“There are a lot of homeworking companies out there, but [they make] you do things in a set way. We look at each individual, see what their needs are and tailor the product.”
