InteleTravel Chief Executive James Ferrara has dismissed criticism of the company's model as "jealousies" and highlighted the UK as a blueprint for further international growth, outlining an expansion strategy that focuses on acquiring specialist businesses – including luxury agencies.
InteleTravel is 'not much different' from the traditional agency, its Chief Executive James Ferrara tells TTG
Asked whether criticism of InteleTravel from elsewhere in the UK trade still frustrates him, Ferrara said it was "not our story anymore", arguing the criticism had historically come from competitors rather than suppliers.
"I don't find our model much different than the traditional agency," he said. "Travel agents often sell to family and friends – point out [to me] a traditional agency that is growing at the pace that InteleTravel is growing."
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InteleTravel Chief Executive James Ferrara has dismissed criticism of the company's model as "jealousies" and highlighted the UK as a blueprint for further international growth, outlining an expansion strategy that focuses on acquiring specialist businesses – including luxury agencies.
InteleTravel is 'not much different' from the traditional agency, its Chief Executive James Ferrara tells TTG
Asked whether criticism of InteleTravel from elsewhere in the UK trade still frustrates him, Ferrara said it was "not our story anymore", arguing the criticism had historically come from competitors rather than suppliers.
"I don't find our model much different than the traditional agency," he said. "Travel agents often sell to family and friends – point out [to me] a traditional agency that is growing at the pace that InteleTravel is growing."
Ferrara pointed to the disparity between InteleTravel's agent and sales growth as evidence of the company's performance, saying its agent numbers were expected to grow by around 5% this year while sales were up by 30% year-on-year.
His stance echoes comments given to TTG by Tricia Handley-Hughes, InteleTravel Managing Director UK, Ireland and UAE, who said the agency's £400 million UK turnover target for 2027 would be driven by getting its existing agents to sell more rather than simply adding to their numbers.
Ferrara added the company was "not really interested" in acquiring any UK agencies. "We don't have a problem getting agents," he said.
5 key takeaways from the 2026 InteleTravel conference
The company is instead looking for businesses that can add capabilities it does not already possess, said Ferrara, whether through technology, specialist product expertise or access to a particular market.
Ferrara discloses InteleTravel is actively working on two as-yet undisclosed acquisitions for technology businesses focusing on transportation and group travel, adding the business has also looked at acquiring luxury agencies.
He also explained acquisitions and partnerships could be used as a shortcut into new international markets.
Ferrara stresses InteleTravel built its UK operation "from scratch", a process he said took two years requiring extensive regulatory attention and efforts to build supplier relationships.
"I'm very glad we built from that quality approach, but that's a long time to get to market," he said, adding that for newer markets, acquisitions or local partnerships could help "speed up the process".
Ferrara also suggested the UK itself has become a template for the company's next phase of expansion. Together, the UK, Ireland and UAE – into which InteleTravel expanded earlier this year – are now around half the size of InteleTravel's US business and roughly a third of its global business, a scale Ferrara said he "never expected".
"The UK has become the poster child for InteleTravel," he said, adding that success now informing expansion plans elsewhere.
The UAE is already operational, while Germany is being prepared for launch next year. Ferrara said Australia and Switzerland were also part of the same development strategy, while Canada remains at an earlier, unscheduled stage.
Ferrara said InteleTravel had initially expected the UAE opportunity to be driven by the country's British expatriate population, but had instead seen "strong engagement" from Emirati customers.
He added that, as a result, the company was now considering opportunities in Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as part of a "march across the Middle East".
Ferrara also sees the wider social benefits of the homeworking model in these emerging markets, particularly among communities that have historically had fewer opportunities to generate independent income.
Recalling a visit to Morocco, Ferrara described seeing a cooperative of Berber women selling traditional handicrafts they had learned to make as children.
"A lot of them were attached to men and, in some cases, not great men," he said. "The economic opportunity gave them freedom, so we think other parts of the Middle East are worth investigating."
Ferrara also highlighted InteleTravel's new accreditation programme, which was announced at this year's conference, with the pilot programme poised to begin on 1 January 2027.
He praised Handley-Hughes and Trainer Debbee Dale for developing the programme, calling it their "brainchild", while explaining the CPD-backed accreditation will give agents an internationally recognised certificate they can use across their businesses.
"There's a saying I like, which is, 'People will work for compensation, but they’ll die for recognition'," Ferrara said. "This accreditation scheme is going to be really powerful by boosting our agents' earnings and recognition on an international stage."
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