Plan Your World founder Lorraine Saunders recently launched a recruitment drive – called Create Your Own Work Style – to find between six and 10 experienced travel experts to join the agency's "small, carefully selected team".

However, despite knowing who she wants to target, Saunders admits she has been hampered by the fact her business is not even a year old.

Saunders launched Plan Your World in October 2025. She has more than 25 years' experience in the travel industry, including eight years with Kuoni, where she held several management positions before progressing to Head of Sales. She has also held roles with Virgin Holidays and Travelbag.

"In the next week or two, I hope to have some more agents onboard," she said, speaking exclusively to TTG. "But I'm looking for needles in haystacks – it's not easy."

Saunders confirmed she is currently in discussion with five prospects, and has had conversations with "old connections" from firms she has previously worked for.

Asked if she is only talking to travel professionals in the south of the country, Saunders said: "I would like to grow nationally. I've had conversations with people in the north, but obviously they won't be spending a lot of time in the Herne Bay shop in Kent."

Retail expansion 

Saunders said there was "no reason" she wouldn't look to open a second shop outside Kent, but stressed she is currently fully focused on adding more sales consultants.

"At Plan Your World, we offer a really nice blend," she said. "I think we have a brilliant model in place, but we're a new business. I need to get my message out there. Once people come onboard, it will become a more natural, organic process.

"Remember, I'm asking people to take a leap of faith. I've got investment and financial backing. I feel the people who have come onboard so far trust me, but it all takes time. Right now, [recruitment] is my biggest focus."

The first two Plan Your World consultants joined last October and November before Saunders opened the agency's first shop in Kent in February. She admits that opening the store has delayed the ongoing recruitment drive.

"The shop has been fantastic – I could not have asked for a better start," she said. "People really love that face-to-face connection. We've been doing some brilliant bookings so far. It's magic in the shop."