“There are so many teams behind the scenes who support you so that you never feel alone” – say hello to Business Travel Counsellor, Nikki

Are you tired of rigid corporate environments and longing for autonomy in your career? Meet Nikki Thompson, a former Corporate TMC employee who took a leap of faith and joined Travel Counsellors. Despite only being a few months into her journey, she’s already confident that she’s made the best move of her career!

Hi Nikki! Could you start by telling us what you were doing before you became a Travel Counsellor?

I was working for a large corporate TMC and had been doing so for just over eight years.

Why were you looking to leave your previous company – was there anything in particular that frustrated you?

I experienced quite a lot of change in my previous role, so it felt like it was the right time for me to set myself a new challenge. I wanted to make my own decisions and be in charge of any change.

Why did running your own travel business appeal to you?

I like to think of myself as a decision-maker and I’m very self-disciplined, so it made sense for me to take the next big step to keep growing in my career. I knew I had what it takes to grow a successful business and it all runs parallel to giving my clients a very personalised, dedicated level of service and expertise.

How did you find out about Travel Counsellors?

I heard about Travel Counsellors from previous colleagues from my old role who had made the same career move.

What was it that appealed to you about Travel Counsellors?

One of the main things that appealed was that we are encouraged to think outside the box and make our own business decisions. There is far less red tape than when working for a large corporate company.

How did you find the initial recruitment and induction process?

I felt looked after and cared for, right from the initial discussion stages to my first day of training. Ashley in the Franchise Sales Team was always there if I needed a chat or further clarification on anything.

What has impressed you most so far since becoming a Travel Counsellor?

In my first month, I hit a few KPIs and various people from the Support Hub got in touch to congratulate me. I really felt supported and celebrated, which was hugely motivational and gave me further assurance that I had made the right decision in my career.

The support has been fantastic. There are so many teams behind the scenes who support us in achieving our goals that you never feel alone, but you still have the ability to make all of your own business decisions.

We also have the option of working in teams with other franchisees. As a new Travel Counsellor, it has been invaluable for me to work so closely and learn from other incredibly experienced business owners (and past colleagues, in some cases).

Recently, we won ‘Top Business Travel Agency’ at The TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies of 2024 Awards and I’m tremendously proud to be part of such a powerhouse in the industry!

What are you looking forward to most about running your franchise?

I can’t wait to see how far I can push myself while continuing to deliver a personalised travel management programme to each and every one of my clients.

What advice would you give to corporate travel professionals who are thinking of joining Travel Counsellors?

There’s no doubt that it is a leap of faith, so you’ve got to be ambitious and be a natural self-starter. You need to be willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone and you’ve got to deliver exceptional service as your business survives on word-of-mouth referrals and organic growth. I think accountability is key in running your own business, so you have to be a goal-setter and you have to have a sound business plan.

If you're a corporate travel professional looking for a new challenge, consider following in Nikki's footsteps. With the right mindset and support from Travel Counsellors, you can achieve great success. Get in touch for more information and say goodbye to the shackles of your current role – whether that’s unrealistic targets, a questionable workplace culture, or the technology taking away from the service levels you can provide to your clients.