How our collaborative model helped Megan and Suvi turn shared values into a growing business

When Megan and Suvi first met at a local coffee shop, neither knew that a regional group chat would lead to a very special partnership. They had plenty to talk about: Suvi had started her Travel Counsellors journey only two months before Megan, and both were navigating their training while swapping stories about favourite TV shows and pets.

Those informal conversations became regular calls. Before long, they realised they shared more than a love of travel. They had similar values, a strong work ethic and the same ambition to create something bigger than either business could be alone, while keeping the independence that had attracted them to Travel Counsellors in the first place.

A partnership built around trust

Today, Megan and Suvi work together through TC Teams, developing a shared niche in LGBTQIA+ travel, women’s travel and inclusive travel.

Their strengths complement each other. Their destination specialisms are different, while their approach to customer service is closely aligned. Both are hands-on and available beyond set contact hours, using customer WhatsApp groups to create a high-touch travel companion from the first conversation through to the journey home.

“I would trust Suvi with both my worst and best customers, as I know they’ll be thrilled with her service,” says Megan.

There is also a valuable exchange of skills. Megan’s background in marketing has helped Suvi develop a part of business ownership that was new to her after working in a high-street travel store.

“Marketing is now an essential skill to being a business owner,” says Suvi. “Being able to bounce ideas off Megan has been invaluable.”

The freedom to grow together

For Megan and Suvi, TC Teams and the commission split are important enablers of their partnership. “But having clear visibility in Phenix, alongside the ability to TC package, is essential as well,” they explain.

“Getting things right with the client is priority number one, and the business grows from there,” they say.

Just as importantly, they share the emotional load of running a business. Busy periods, complex itineraries and sensitive customer situations are easier to handle when there is someone who understands the context and can help think through the next step.

Working together means they can support one another through the difficult moments, while also sharing the excitement when an enquiry becomes a booking.

A niche with purpose

Megan and Suvi’s specialist areas grew naturally from who they are and what they care about.

“We’re both members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and definite ‘girls-girls’,” they explain. “Uplifting any woman who crosses our paths is our greatest joy as we’re both natural cheerleaders.”

For them, inclusive travel is about more than avoiding the wrong places. It means actively seeking the right ones: properties that genuinely welcome LGBTQIA+ guests, experiences that support solo women travellers and itineraries that consider different access needs and ways of processing information from the outset.

Their care can be practical and highly personal. It might mean creating an allergy card in the local language or building an in-depth itinerary for an autistic traveller who feels overwhelmed by the unknown.

“Our contact centres are filled with everything that makes our customers tick, lessening their mental load so they can focus on the best parts of their year,” they say. “It’s hard to not find that pursuit rewarding.

As for a customer story that really stands out?

" We have a client who is a recent widow and has started to do some solo travelling. We recently organised her an incredible 22-day fly-drive holiday to Norway with her friend and a trip that originally sounded quite daunting to her, ended up as an amazing adventure that she was very grateful for. They personally gave us updates on their trip via WhatsApp.

"Being able to give her a trip that felt safe and carefully supported reminded us exactly why we do what we do. Inclusive, thoughtful travel planning can genuinely change how someone feels about themselves and their place in the world, especially at a vulnerable moment in life."

A community that gives back

Their partnership is strengthened by the wider Travel Counsellors community. Both are members of our TC Pride affinity group, and they use regional chats as a source of advice, information and connection.

“This is a community where you get what you give; advice, support, friendship and opportunities,” they say.

And their advice for anyone considering taking the leap?

“Your niche is not a limitation, it can be a superpower,” says Suvi. “If there is an area of travel you are genuinely passionate about, there will be customers who are waiting for someone exactly like you to show up and serve them with insight and care.”

Megan’s advice is even more direct: “Do it or forever wish you had.”

Turn your travel business dreams into reality

Could collaboration, community and the freedom to build around your own interests help you create the business you have been imagining? Sign up to a Discovery Day to learn more about the model, meet the people behind the community and explore what becoming a Travel Counsellor could look like for you.