Meet our Relationship Management Team: Leah Spellman

Having joined Travel Counsellors as part of our graduate scheme, Leah found herself landing a permanent role in our Relationship Management team. Day to day, she works with our first-year business owners, helping them to overcome challenges and get their businesses off to a flying start.

We caught up with Leah to find out why she loves her job, and to learn about an incredible opportunity she recently had to join some of our Travel Counsellors on a once-in-a-lifetime incentive trip to India.

Hi Leah! What do you love about working at Travel Counsellors?

One of the things I love most about working at Travel Counsellors is the incredible sense of community. Every day, I get to work alongside some of my best friends. I started three years ago alongside a cohort of ten fantastic other graduates who I still connect with daily. When I joined the Relationship Management Team as a permanent member 18 months ago, I realised how genuinely supportive everyone is. This supportive environment makes all the difference.

Tell us a bit about what you do day to day as a Relationship Manager

In my role as a Relationship Manager, my main focus is supporting Travel Counsellors with any questions or challenges that come up in their business. Each day is unique, and I'm here to provide guidance and solutions that help them succeed. I love the variety that my role brings.

What part of your role do you enjoy the most?

I work closely with first-year Travel Counsellors, guiding them as they transition from training into building and growing their businesses. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness their journey from the very beginning, as they apply what they’ve learned, overcome initial challenges, and start to see success. I’m proud to play a part in their early journey and I feel lucky to support them in laying the foundation for what I know will be successful futures in the travel industry.

You recently joined some of our Travel Counsellors on an incentive trip to India – tell us how that went

India is a place that’s hard to put into words. From staying in some of the world’s top hotels to eating what felt like 15 amazing dishes a day, the entire trip was beyond indulgent.

There were so many unforgettable experiences, but here are a few highlights. First was a sunset visit to the Taj Mahal. Seeing this iconic landmark was especially meaningful since one of my travel goals is to visit all seven Modern Wonders of the World before I turn 30, so checking another off the list felt incredible. Another standout moment was visiting a gurdwara in Delhi, where we helped volunteers make chapatis and chop vegetables - which go towards feeding up to 70,000 people daily.

Though there were countless incredible sights, it was the amazing group of Travel Counsellors I travelled with that truly made the trip unforgettable. Meeting business owners I’d only spoken to over the phone and spending a week hearing their stories was both insightful and inspiring. I feel incredibly lucky to have connected with such wonderful people.

What’s the secret to building strong relationships with our Travel Counsellors?

The secret to building strong relationships with our Travel Counsellors is being genuinely available for them — giving them the time to talk whenever they need it and being a reliable source of advice and support. Being that person they can reach out to makes a real difference.

What’s been your highlight since joining the Travel Counsellors community?

It has to be the India trip. It’s going to be hard to top that experience! A close second would be the annual conferences. I love the energy of seeing everyone in person and celebrating the achievements of the past year together.

What do you think sets Travel Counsellors apart from other travel franchises on the market?

What truly sets Travel Counsellors apart from other travel franchises is our people and the strong sense of community. We have a powerful platform and are driven by the passion each individual brings to their work. This combination of supportive relationships, innovative tools, and shared enthusiasm makes Travel Counsellors unique in the industry.

__Why would you recommend Travel Counsellors to anyone who’s serious about setting up their own travel business? __

The training is exceptional, with personalised coaching available as often as needed. You’re surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals who are just as passionate. It’s the ideal environment for building a successful travel business.

The beauty of becoming a Travel Counsellor is that you’re running your business for yourself, but not by yourself. We appreciate starting a brand-new venture can be daunting, which is why Leah and the wider Relationship Management team are on-hand to help you overcome any blockers and achieve success. Relationship management is just one of the many ways in which we empower you as a new business owner. To find out about the full breadth of support we offer, why not book onto one of our upcoming Discovery Events? You’ve got nothing to lose, and potentially everything to gain. Secure your spot today.