We’re seeing more customers than ever looking for the trusted travel advice, reassurance and care that comes with having their own personal travel expert who can be there for them beyond the booking – I’m delighted for every trusted adviser after everything we’ve been through.
It takes huge talent and a special type of person to be a trusted advisor, which was highlighted more than ever during the pandemic. Now, during peaks, they’re working round the clock to get bookings over the line and to provide the very best, most caring service to customers, guiding them through the myriad choices they have.
I commend all those also who have made the bold and brave decision to run their own travel businesses; it isn’t easy, but as we’ve seen, the rewards can be immense – and the satisfaction of making a customer’s dream trip a reality is something we all can relate to.
In our business, the power of the community, personal relationships, and shared knowledge and experiences continues to be at the fore of what we do. We want everyone to feel connected, informed, supported and part of something bigger than themselves.
Each and every person within our community, and the wider industry, has their own personal story to tell and will be on their own journey, but as we learnt during Covid, it’s incredibly important no one ever feels alone. We must harness the passion and positivity from those around us to move forward and support one another through the tough times and the good.
This strength in numbers, experience and mindset can prove a winning formula for agents, for both those who need more support when business is so busy to agents who may be looking for some extra bookings to give them a boost for the year ahead.
We continuously explore different ways and offer different models to ensure our franchisees can run and scale their businesses to a pace that suits them. The growth in “TC Teams” during and since the pandemic has been phenomenal, and we’ve seen some amazing results from those working together, such as by providing extra admin support to groups of TCs servicing both leisure and corporate clients.
Getting back
More than a third of our business owners now work this way and earn more as a result. During January, TC Teams was instrumental in our community supporting one another and getting bookings over the line.
As we look to the new year, there will no doubt be challenges to deal with, and we can only hope peace prevails where there is currently conflict. But I have no doubt our unwavering commitment to looking after our customers, and each other, can – and does – realise endless and unlimited opportunities for all in travel.
Frankly, I’m just delighted for us all that making bookings – not cancelling and amending them – is back this January. And that people are able to enjoy the wonders of the world, and are doing so in increasingly sustainable ways. I wish everyone all the very best in getting back doing the job they love – selling dreams and caring for customers.
Steve Byrne is chief executive of Travel Counsellors.
