Driving success among our business owners – meet Jon Hardcastle

Say hello to our Business Performance Manager, Jon Hardcastle, who joined us in November 2024. Part of our wider Relationship Management Team, Jon will provide tailored support to our business owners, ensuring that they can continue to be their best, achieve their goals, and take their business to new heights.

We caught up with him to find out more about his background and why he was so keen to join our caring, supportive, and empowering community.

Hi Jon - tell us a bit about what you were doing before you joined Travel Counsellors

This year will be my third decade in the industry (I’m showing my age now!), and I’ve spent most of this working in a variety of roles for premium leisure and high-end luxury tour operators like Gold Medal Travel, ITC, and Elegant Resorts. So my background is definitely tour operating. Prior to joining Travel Counsellors, I worked for Marriott International as UK and Europe Senior Sales Manager for their properties in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Tell us about your role

It’s an absolute privilege to be working within the Relationship Management Team here at Venus and my role is an extension to this. It’s a new role to the business, with the main objective being to support and further enhance the performance and growth of some of our leisure Travel Counsellors.

What was it that made you want to join Travel Counsellors?

I’ve been very fortunate to work alongside Travel Counsellors for the last 20 years or so as a supplier, and I always had great admiration for the business and its people. I’ve been to about eight conferences over the years, which have always been a genuine highlight in my calendar! I guess I always knew I would work here one day, so it was meant to be. When I saw the role, I jumped at the opportunity - it suits me perfectly.

What are you enjoying most about your role so far?

I’d have to say getting to know the best people in the industry - not just the Travel Counsellors but also colleagues here at Venus. The community spirit is like nothing I’ve experienced before and I’m really enjoying getting to know this business and building relationships with the Travel Counsellors and the whole community. It’s also great to be back in the thick of Peaks again – something that I’ve really missed.

What do you think sets Travel Counsellors apart from other travel franchises on the market in terms of the support we offer to our business owners?

Honestly, there’s so much that sets us apart. Firstly, the amazing support here at Venus and the investment in technology. I believe the Phenix system is the best out there, certainly that I have seen. Secondly, I think the TC Teams concept is so unique, especially how we facilitate this to make it easy for the Travel Counsellors to work together. The events are also a major stand out, especially Conference. However, our brand, heritage, and the way we look after customers cannot be compared.

How would you describe Travel Counsellors in one sentence?

It’s an incredible company to work for, with the best community in the industry that goes beyond for their customers.

With our Relationship Management team on hand to support you every step of the way, success is never far away as a Travel Counsellor. If you’ve got the drive, ambition, and passion to grow your own travel business and provide world-class service to your customers, the sky really is the limit. Ready to join a travel franchise where you’ll never feel alone? Book onto one of our informal Discovery events to find out more about what we can offer you.