Meet Cathy Oldfield, our longest-serving member of the Franchise Sales team

In the next instalment of our ‘Meet the Franchise Sales Team’ series, we’re shining the spotlight on Cathy, who will be celebrating 26 years with Travel Counsellors this year!

Find out why she’s stuck around so long and discover her top tips for anyone wanting to join our franchisee community.

Hi Cathy! Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself?

I’m originally from Northern Ireland. I live with my partner and have a daughter, a son, a grandson, and two Malshis called Mollie and Maisie. We’re fortunate to live in a village surrounded by countryside, so there are plenty of places to go walking with the dogs. Of course, holidays are my main passion – but only those that involve flip-flops!

Career-wise, my background has always been in travel. I studied travel and tourism in college back in 1985, and before coming to Travel Counsellors, I worked on the high street within independent travel agencies.

What was it that brought you to Travel Counsellors?

When I relocated from Northern Ireland, I applied for a job at David Speakman Travel (who was the founder of Travel Counsellors) at his travel agency in Atherton. I then progressed to head office in various roles before settling in recruitment. 2024 will be my 26th year at Travel Counsellors!

What do you love most about your job?

I love seeing peoples’ lives change. I had a lovely email recently from someone who started as a Travel Counsellor about nine months ago. She got her commission remittance and that month she was due to receive more than four times what she had earned on the high street. She was in tears seeing it, as it meant so much to her and her young daughter.

What’s been your highlight so far during your time at Travel Counsellors?

It was having the courage to open our annual conference in Glasgow in 2018. It was my 20th year at Travel Counsellors and I spoke about my recruitment journey, and also about my time volunteering in Nepal a few months before.

What can prospective Travel Counsellors expect from the recruitment process?
We treat every candidate as an individual and we build a relationship with that person. Timing is so important, and only the candidate knows when that timing is right. Therefore, there is never any pressure from our end. We will spend as much time talking or meeting with prospective new Travel Counsellors as they would want.

How do you reassure people who have reservations about becoming a business owner?

I’ve been with the business for such a long time, and I certainly wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in Travel Counsellors. We encourage new candidates to get in touch with existing Travel Counsellors to hear it from their side.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to set up their own travel business?

As with most new businesses, it’s not going to happen overnight, So, financially, you need to prepare for that and have a buffer until commissions start to generate.

In your opinion, what do you think sets Travel Counsellors apart from other travel franchises?

I think it’s the tech and tools available, alongside the range of products. There is no enquiry that a Travel Counsellor couldn’t facilitate. For me, it’s also the community - how the Travel Counsellors support each other and work together, as well as the company’s intense focus on wellbeing.

Whether you’re experienced in selling holidays or are brand-new to the travel industry, we have a training programme to suit everyone – and Cathy and her team are always on the lookout for passionate and entrepreneurial people to join our thriving community. If you want to find out more about whether being a Travel Counsellor could be a good move for you, get in touch with the Franchise Sales team today. Fill out this short form to get the ball rolling!