“If you have the right drive and determination, you can have an amazing career as a Travel Counsellor.” Meet John, one of our business development franchisees.

John Fayle is one of our Business Development Travel Counsellors, who supports with client acquisition. We spoke to him to find out more how Travel Counsellors compares to other travel management companies he's worked for, what he enjoys about running his franchise, and why he's recommend other business travel professionals to join us.

Hi John – it’s great to meet you. Please could you explain what your role as a Business Development Travel Counsellor entails, and how you work with our corporate business owners?

My role is to bring in new clients to Travel Counsellors, either through self-lead generation or working on leads generated by other Travel Counsellors. I manage the entire sales cycle, working as part of a team with other franchisees. I book and run sales meetings and support new client implementation once the contracts are signed.

Once the client is onboarded, I’m there to support the team with anything non-booking-related. The model is unlike a traditional Travel Management Company (TMC). I have the autonomy to allocate business however I feel best suits my team and my clients.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The biggest benefit is the work-life balance. From a well-being standpoint, I can take time out when I need to. I have young children, so being there for those important events is priceless. I have flexibility that I’ve never had in my previous sales roles.

How does Travel Counsellors compare to other companies you’ve worked at?

It’s vastly different. The entrepreneurial nature of the Travel Counsellors model means we are trusted to make decisions in the best interests of the company, as well as ourselves. Also, we have direct contact and access to key decision-makers and influencers within the business. This allows us to make positive changes to both our products and processes. I’ve not experienced either with any other company I’ve worked for.

What was it that attracted you to Travel Counsellors?

I’ve been in the travel industry for a decade, and Travel Counsellors has always had a great reputation for service to its customers. I always wondered what makes them so successful. I then worked at our support centre briefly in 2020, so have been fortunate to experience the business from both a franchisee and support centre perspective.

What do you think makes Travel Counsellors stand out from other travel management companies?

It’s the people! As a salesperson, being able to confidently sell your service to a prospective client is critical, as ultimately you must deliver what you say you will. Our Travel Counsellors come from a wide variety of different backgrounds and have that entrepreneurial drive and spirit that you won’t get at any other TMC.

We’re pleased to hear you love being part of our community, John. Finally, why would you recommend Travel Counsellors as a career opportunity to fellow business travel professionals?

I’d recommend it because you get to work with the best travel professionals in the industry and with a business that continues to invest in the right people and technology to make our service even better for both our customers and franchisees. If you have the right drive and determination, you can have an amazing career as a Travel Counsellor. It’s changed my life in such a positive way.

Do you work in corporate travel sales and want to break away from unrealistic targets and long hours? We’re on the lookout for new Business Development Travel Counsellors to join our global community as we head into 2024. We can offer you complete flexibility to run your business your way – with uncapped earnings and no sales targets. If you want to take control of your life and make a difference to businesses across the country, we want to hear from you. Get in touch with our New Franchise team and we can help you embark on an exciting journey as a Travel Counsellor.