‘Phenix is an unbelievable platform’ – why Matt came on board as a Travel Counsellor

Matt joined Travel Counsellors in 2018 after a successful career in the travel industry spanning almost two decades. Having recently joined our prestigious community of Gold Travel Counsellors, we caught up with Matt to find out how our best-in-class tech and support have played a part in his success.

Why did you join Travel Counsellors?

There were several reasons why I wanted to become a Travel Counsellor. Firstly, other Travel Counsellors I met were so positive about the franchise. The head office teams were also really easy to deal with, and I loved how honest they were. Phenix, Travel Counsellors’ in-house booking system, was also a big swing for me. It’s an unbelievable platform that allows me to be my own tour operator.

How did you grow your business?

A friend of mine invited me to join Business Network International and said it would be great for my business. I joined within the first month of starting my franchise and he was right! I love being a part of it and it’s been brilliant for my business.

My family and friends were a great support too – they were constantly sharing my social media posts and referring people to me. A fair amount of my business still comes from social media.

I’ve also recently bought another Travel Counsellors’ franchise who is preparing for retirement, so there’s a team of four of us supporting with enquiries and learning from one another.

How would you describe the support at Travel Counsellors?

The support is as much as you need to be successful, including business development calls, training and marketing support – plus lots of ways for Travel Counsellors to share expertise.

What was your motivation for achieving Gold?

For me, Gold was never a goal, but it’s a great sign that the business is doing well. I’ve had so many congratulations messages from within the community, which has been lovely. I definitely don’t want to lose my Gold status.

What sets Travel Counsellors apart from other franchises?

The investment into IT and systems is huge – not just within the franchise community but within the entire industry. They’re constantly developing the customer touchpoints to make it easier than ever for customers to do business with Travel Counsellors.

One of the best things about being a Travel Counsellor is being a really competitive tour operator as well as a travel agent. I have access to tech that enables quotes and documents to be in my customers’ hands within seconds, wherever they are in the world.

Finally, what would your advice be to people who are thinking of setting up their own travel business?

Choosing the right franchise is super important, so take your time, do your research and have some savings so you’re panicking about your income while you start out. It’s also really important to network – you’ll meet wonderful people from a wide range of industries, and even if they don’t become clients, they can be there to offer support and referrals.