From retail travel to running his own business — Dan’s story

Following redundancy, Dan found himself at a crossroads. Having built a successful career in luxury travel, he knew he still wanted to work closely with clients and create exceptional travel experiences — but he also wanted something more: ownership, flexibility, and the opportunity to build a business on his own terms.

That search led him to Travel Counsellors.

“My career in luxury travel began at Kuoni in London,” Dan explains. Starting out in a flagship store, he quickly progressed to Assistant Manager within 18 months.

“I was focused on learning as much as I could being new to the industry,” he says. “But in the role, I was focused on relationship management and dealt mostly with special occasion clients taking complex, multi-destination journeys.”

His strong sales performance led to opportunities to support underperforming stores and train new starters, experiences that helped shape the consultative, client-first approach he still uses today. But after redundancy from his previous role, Dan realised he wanted greater control over his future.

“I wanted complete ownership over my business from lead generation all the way through to booking and beyond,” he says.

Why Travel Counsellors felt like the right fit

Following a Travel Counsellors Discovery Day and conversations with existing Travel Counsellors — including several who had also previously worked in luxury travel — the decision quickly became clear.

“Travel Counsellors seemed like the perfect fit,” Dan says. “Travel Counsellors’ focus on support and personal service was spot on for how I worked so it was a no-brainer at that point.”

Launching a business from scratch in 2023 without an existing client database was, understandably, daunting. But Dan credits the skills and standards developed during his retail travel career with helping him build momentum quickly.

“Kuoni trained me to handle high-value, high-expectation bookings where meticulous attention to detail is the standard,” he explains. “I brought that exact standard and sales process to my own business.”

That experience gave him the confidence to secure high-value bookings early on — including one of his biggest bookings to date.

“It even gave me the confidence to begin my Travel Counsellors career with my biggest booking to date (£50,000),” he says. “I would have felt overwhelmed with that had it not been for the prior training and some of the clients and bookings I handled previously.”

Delivering luxury service with the right support

Today, Dan specialises in luxury, multi-component itineraries, particularly across Africa and Australasia, and says the technology and support infrastructure at Travel Counsellors have transformed the way he works.

“The Head Office backing and back-office infrastructure are exceptional,” he says. “Phenix allows me to manage the more complex, multi-component luxury itineraries all in one system, meaning my time is spent on consultative selling and customer care rather than endless admin.”

For Dan, one of the biggest changes has been the flexibility that comes with running his own business. After years of long retail hours and daily commuting into London, he now structures his working life around both his clients and his personal priorities.

“The transition from long fixed retail hours to owning my own business has fundamentally changed how I work,” he says. “I no longer work to a rota; I work to the demands of my pipeline and my clients.”

Being fully independent has also strengthened the relationships he builds with clients.

“As an independent business owner, I am the sole point of contact throughout the entire client journey,” he says. “Clients are investing in my specific expertise, which builds an entirely different level of trust compared to a high-street transaction.”

That personalised approach has helped Dan build a strong referral and repeat client base — something he believes is central to long-term success in luxury travel.

Building a successful travel business from scratch

Looking back, Dan says the most rewarding part of becoming a Travel Counsellor has been proving to himself that he could successfully build something entirely on his own.

“The most rewarding aspect is the validation of my own belief that I could do this for myself,” he says. “Building a premium travel business from a completely blank slate and turning it into a profitable, award-nominated business proves what’s possible with a plan and structured approach.”

For anyone from a luxury retail travel background considering a move into self-employment, Dan’s advice is simple: the leap can feel intimidating, but the rewards are worth it.

“The initial concern about leaving a guaranteed salary is natural,” he says. “But the commercial upside of ownership far outweighs the security of employment if you have the drive.”

And for those who already have strong destination knowledge and exceptional customer service skills, he believes Travel Counsellors provides the ideal platform to succeed.

“If you’re a self-starter who understands how to manage a sales pipeline, the model allows you to earn directly from your own work ethic rather than a capped commission structure,” he says. “The freedom to run your business how you want to means you can take the time to curate relationships with the right people to make this possible.”

Could Travel Counsellors be the right fit for you too

If you’re considering your next step in travel, our Discovery Days are the perfect opportunity to learn more about running your own travel business with the support of Travel Counsellors. You’ll hear from existing Travel Counsellors, meet members of our support teams, and get an honest insight into how the business works — all in a relaxed, informal setting. Secure your place today.