Starting strong: how Alex fast-tracked her business by joining in summer

Alex Fowler hadn’t planned to start her Travel Counsellors journey when she did.

After seven years working in complex safeguarding for the police, she found herself at a crossroads. “It was a very meaningful role and one I’m very proud of, but it was also emotionally demanding,” she explains. When the possibility of redundancy arose, it prompted a bigger question about her future.

“With the support of my fiancé, I decided to pursue something I had always been passionate about, which was travel.”

Originally, Alex intended to begin her new career in November 2025. But instead of waiting, she made a decision that would shape the trajectory of her business from day one — she brought her start date forward to the summer.

That decision changed everything.

Why joining in summer made all the difference for Alex

“I decided to take a risk and begin before the summer period instead—and it paid off,” Alex says.

Starting earlier meant she stepped straight into one of the busiest booking windows of the year. “There was a huge amount of footfall from customers looking to secure last-minute summer holidays, spontaneous city breaks, as well as forward planners booking ahead for the following year.”

Rather than easing into the business during a quieter period, Alex was immediately immersed in real demand. “Being active during that peak gave me immediate exposure, real booking opportunities and a strong start in building both confidence and client relationships.”

Building momentum

For Alex, starting in summer wasn’t just about volume — it was about accelerating her development.

That early exposure helped her quickly build core skills. “It helped me develop essential skills such as handling customer needs, managing time effectively and building product knowledge through real interactions.”

With the support of her mentor and the wider community, she was never alone. “That early momentum gave me a solid foundation and boosted my confidence from the outset — but having the support of a mentor on hand is proving to be so valuable too.”

Crucially, starting in summer allowed Alex to build a pipeline of customers and bookings before heading into the industry’s biggest peak booking season, giving her a strong base ahead of January.

Confidence from day one

Coming from a completely different industry, Alex credits the Travel Counsellors platform and community with helping her get started quickly.

“Having everything in one place meant I could focus on building relationships with clients rather than worrying about the technical side of bookings,” she explains. “The constant support from colleagues and head office gave me reassurance that I wasn’t on my own — and that gave me the confidence to start selling from day one.”

That confidence translated into results. One standout moment came when she secured her biggest booking yet—a luxury Maldives trip.

“Using the platform, I was able to look at availability in real time and compare options side by side,” she says. “I was able to rework the overall cost and upgrade them which was a better experience than they’d originally requested.”

“Seeing how impressed they were with the outcome was such a proud moment for me — they’ve since come back to me for a huge family ski trip.”

Earning back her joining fee

With access to a trusted supplier network and the ability to package trips efficiently, Alex was able to focus on what mattered most — growing her business and hitting a very important threshold.

“That played a big part in helping me earn back my joining fee within my first 6 months,” she says.

“I think the turning point was when repeat business and referrals started to come in. That’s when I realised I was building relationships and a sustainable client base.”

“Earning back my fee has shown me that this isn’t just a short-term change — it’s a long-term opportunity.”

Change your life this summer

If Alex’s story has inspired you, now could be the perfect time to take the first step. Join one of our Discovery events to learn more about building your own travel business with Travel Counsellors — and how starting this summer could set you up for success. Book your place today.