Breaking free from the tour operator grind – Martyn's journey

Making the decision to leave the security of a traditional travel role can feel daunting — but as Martyn Bulloch discovered, it can also be the most rewarding move you’ll ever make.

Encouraged by the success stories of former colleagues at the tour operator he spent over a decade working for, and armed with transferable skills from running his own small business, Martyn joined Travel Counsellors to create the work-life balance he’d been missing.

What he found was a community of like-minded people, the freedom to grow at his own pace, and the excitement of building a travel business that’s entirely his own.

Taking the leap

“I kept in touch with some of the leavers from the tour operator I previously worked for who had made the move to Travel Counsellors. They always sung Travel Counsellors’ praises, and it seemed they all had a far better work-life balance, which was appealing to me. I was told the culture is very supportive and you’re made to feel valued.”

When reflecting on what attracted him to Travel Counsellors, Martyn said: “There isn’t one stand-out thing. It was everything about the community, the levels of respect, and the core values of Travel Counsellors, which couldn’t be more different my previous company. I found the pressure and constraints in my old role to be quite oppressive. I was really excited to become part of the Travel Counsellors community.”

Between leaving his job at the tour operator and joining Travel Counsellors, Martyn ran his own pet services business, which helped him hone is marketing skills and become more self-reliant – skills which he believes will stand him in good stead as he embarks on a thrilling new journey as a travel business owner. “Running my pet services business definitely helped to make the leap feel easier”, Martyn added.

Getting set for success

With a lot to learn, Martyn was looking forward to throwing himself into a new challenge – safe in the knowledge he’d be supported every step of the way.

Describing his initial induction, Martyn said: “It was informative and well-paced. The ability to self-study was huge, and training and tech teams were all fantastic if I ever had questions.

“Although my first few weeks have been a little slow, I have enquiries that I’m working on. Once they’ve booked, I’m sure word of mouth will spread. I’m also working on growing my social media followers.

“I can’t wait to grow my contact centre with clients, develop strong relationships, and soak up the positive feedback that will come. In time, I’d love to become a Gold Travel Counsellor (the accolade given to the top 12% of franchise owners), but in my first year, I’m aiming for £200k in turnover and 20 five-star reviews on Trustpilot.”

Why Martyn would recommend Travel Counsellors

Having previously felt the frustrations of not being in control of his own destiny, Martyn shares this advice for anyone who finds themselves in a similar position.

“As a Travel Counsellor, you have freedom and flexibility. You’re accountable to yourself and can take on as much business as you like. The community is also strong. You’re not in competition with other franchise owners – instead, you’re supported by them.”

Ready to thrive?

Whether you’ve got travel industry experience or not, we’re always looking for people who share our passion and values to join our entrepreneurial community. Book onto one of our relaxed, no-pressure Discovery events to see where Travel Counsellors could take you. Say goodbye to burnout and hello to a business opportunity that puts you in the driving seat.