Help & FAQs

Is there anything that I can offer my customers as a Travel Counsellor which sets me apart? Yes. Our Travel Counsellors set themselves apart from the rest by building personal relationships with their customers and delivering the highest level of personal service and care that can be found in the travel industry. It’s our unique approach to travel that makes us more than a little different from the rest. You’ll be able to offer your customers an authentic, tailor-made travel service, creating bespoke, ‘one-off’ itineraries that cannot be found anywhere else. And that’s what keeps our customers coming back year after year, again and again. In fact, 96% say they would recommend Travel Counsellors to their friends, family and colleagues.

What experience do I need? We have a route to becoming a Travel Counsellor for everyone – whether you’ve got years of experience selling travel, or you’re completely new to the industry. We currently offer the following four routes: Leisure: For travel professionals who have a minimum of 3/4 years’ recent experience in a role selling travel. Travel Academy: For people who don’t have any previous experience in the travel industry, or have worked in travel, but in a non-sales based role. Return to Travel: For travel professionals who have a minimum of 3/4 years’ experience in a role selling travel, but have had a break of more than 12 months. Travel Trade: our newest training course, which is for people who have previously worked in other areas of travel, such as product, marketing or hospitality, but not selling holidays directly to customers. Our recruitment team will be happy to discuss your individual experience and advise you on the best route for you.

How much can I earn as a Travel Counsellor? How much you can earn as a Travel Counsellor is entirely up to you. Your earning potential is completely uncapped, so the more you put in, the more you get out. Our commission model is based on a 60/40 split – you retain 60% of the profit you make on your bookings – and with our in-house booking system, Phenix, you’ll have complete control over the margin you make on your bookings. Our Business Development team will work with you to set your own personal targets.

Can I choose my own hours? It’s your business, so you’re the boss. Just make sure that you’re devoting enough time to developing your business and nurturing your customer base. If you’re working one hour a day and expecting incredible rewards, you might be disappointed – it’s no coincidence that our most successful Travel Counsellors are also our hardest working! The flexibility that running your own business offers is one of the many reasons why our Travel Counsellors made the decision to be their own boss.

What does it cost to become a Travel Counsellor? From just AED8,000+VAT, you’ll have everything you need to set up your own business, with all Travel Counsellors trademark and brand privileges. Even if you have no previous sales experience in the travel industry, you can enrol on our comprehensive, full time Travel Academy training course.

Do I have to be home-based? The vast majority of our Travel Counsellors work from home – but if you’d prefer, you’re welcome to rent a non-retail office. But our stats show that you’ll be happier and more successful working from the comfort of your own home!

I’ve heard homeworking can be lonely. What support is available? There are over 1,800 Travel Counsellors working around the clock, around the world – so you’ll always find that there’s someone to talk to if you fancy a chat! But we’re not just about webcams, message boards and TCTV broadcasts. You’ll have plenty of ways to meet with your friends and colleagues face to face; with our monthly TC hub, training days and our prestigious Annual Conference. As a member of the Travel Counsellors family, we promise you’ll never feel alone. If you would like support at any time, our friendly and helpful Business Development & Operational Support team are only ever a phone call away.

How long does it take to get set up? After successful compleation of our interview process you will be booked onto the next available induction course generally at around 4 weeks notice.

What is the initial training? After a series of eLearning pre-induction modules, you’ll join a relevant induction programme at our head office in Dubai. It’s a friendly and engaging way to learn all about the Travel Counsellors approach to travel.

Is there a minimum sales target? Whilst we don’t set any defined targets, we encourage you to achieve a minimum of AED400,000 sales a year. This is in your own financial best interests and to ensure you are setting off on a path to a sustainable, successful business. This shouldn’t present a problem if you give your full commitment and follow our advice on best practice.

When do I get paid? You’ll be paid commission monthly by bank transfer on the 7th working day of each month. If you have any queries, you can always call our Accounts team for friendly advice!

Do you provide leads? No. You’ll build your client base from your personal network. We’ll suggest that you compile a list of family, friends and other personal contacts who you feel comfortable will support your new venture. You’ll be surprised how many people you know when you set your mind to it! You’ll then receive our full support to help you nurture a loyal customer base, promote your business through networking and social media and attract new leads.

Will you help me market my business? You’ll have access to professional and effective marketing materials created by our talented team of creatives. We’re also on hand with plenty of tips on how to market yourself in your local area. If you’d like to discuss upcoming marketing campaigns, our Marketing team would be happy to take your call.

Is there out of hours support? Wherever you are, whenever you need us, you can rest assured that there will always someone on hand to help you. Our duty office is available 24/7 to help and support both you and your customers should an issue arise either pre-departure or in resort. The duty office monitor worldwide events, so should an issue arise that may affect your clients then the duty office will communicate accordingly. They will also run a report to identify the bookings that may be in resort or travelling imminently and they will notify you of any bookings affected. The Travel Counsellor and the duty office work together to ensure our customers are looked after.

What happens when I go on holiday? We all need a break – so rest assured that your business won’t suffer while you’re taking some well-earned time away. We operate a buddy system, so a named Travel Counsellor will look after your customers in your absence. We just ask that you return the favour!

Will head office take care of my admin? No one likes admin - so we’ll do it for you! We have nearly 400 people at our global head office in The UK, including our dedicated administration team. The team are here to process your clients’ documentation for all third-party retail bookings. This includes the checking and sending of confirmation invoices, as well as the processing and sending of your customers’ tickets. They also take care of refunds, names changes and cancellations. This support means you’ll have more time to dedicate to each of your customers – which is what really matters.

__I’ve always enjoyed going on educational trips - will I still have that opportuni__ty? We understand that to sell a destination, first-hand experience is invaluable. Thanks to our strong supplier relationships, we’re delighted to offer a wide range of educational opportunities to all Travel Counsellors including FAM trips and hotel site inspections.

Can I employ my own staff? No, at this stage the Dubai Ministry of Labour does not permit this however you can always partner with another Travel Counsellor to help you during busy periods or with high volume accounts.

Do you provide a work permit/visa? Yes for all Travel Counsellors currently on spousal sponsorship in Dubai we can facilitate a work permit. For Travel Counsellors requiring full sponsorship we can facilitate a Dubai residency visa. Please talk to our team to establish the options available to you.