Relaunching your travel career after redundancy

Redundancy hits hard. There's no getting around that, especially when you’ve spent years building a career you’re truly proud of. Alongside the practical worries, there’s often a real sense of shock and uncertainty. It can feel like you've lost a part of your identity, particularly for experienced travel professionals who put their heart and soul into their work.

Here's what's important to remember: redundancy isn't a reflection of your value. And in terms of your career, it’s an interruption, not an ending. For many people we speak to, it actually becomes the moment they pause, take stock, and rebuild a career that offers more control, more flexibility, and more rewards they had before.

You haven't lost your value

Redundancy doesn't wipe away your years of experience, your trusted client relationships, or your commercial instincts. Everything that made you successful yesterday is still right there with you today. The only thing that’s changed is the structure around it.

We know that many experienced travel professionals were already operating at an incredibly high level—managing complex itineraries, looking after loyal customers, and driving serious revenue—but doing so within frameworks that held them back. We’re talking about rigid targets, product bias, capped earnings, and inflexible hours. Over time, those constraints can quietly chip away at your earning potential and your love for the job.

Redundancy often brings a clarity you didn't expect. It highlights what actually matters: owning your customer relationships, choosing how and when you work, and being rewarded fairly for the expertise you bring to the table.

This is where Travel Counsellors offers a different path. It allows you to continue delivering the same high-quality service you’re known for but without the limitations of a traditional employer. The role doesn't change, but your control over it does.

Doing what you do best, without compromise

Going independent can sound daunting, but for many experienced travel professionals, it’s not a risk—it’s an upgrade. It means taking full ownership of your client base, specialising in the areas you care about most, and shaping a working pattern that fits your life and your ambitions.

There are no earnings caps, no pressure to push preferred products, or chase arbitrary targets. Your success is directly linked to the value you create for your clients. Nothing more, nothing less.

Crucially, being independent doesn't mean being alone. Travel Counsellors is built entirely around community and shared expertise. You’re supported by peers, mentors, and dedicated head office teams who understand the realities of the role and are genuinely invested in your success.

Our model protects your individuality while removing the friction that usually stops people from going it alone: administrative burden, operational complexity, and isolation. It’s a structure designed to support your independence, not restrict it - giving you the space to focus on what you do best.

Tech and support that works for you

Travel Counsellors’ technology is designed to enhance your expertise, not replace it. TC Co-Pilot, our platform’s AI-enabled support, helps speed up research, streamline itinerary building, and manage complexity more efficiently. This frees up more of your time for meaningful client relationships.

Our technology works quietly in the background, boosting your confidence and accuracy while ensuring you remain firmly in control. It’s about helping you work smarter and more efficiently.

From day one, you're backed by comprehensive systems, tailored training, and 24/7 support. Our focus is on enabling you to operate at your best quickly and sustainably, so you don't have to worry about rebuilding everything from scratch.

The result is a model that supports your growth without compromising your autonomy, allowing you to move forward without barriers and uncertainty.

Explore what your relaunch could look like

Redundancy can be a powerful fresh start: a chance to take control, set your own pace, and build on your experience. It isn’t an ending; it’s an invitation to start something new and rewarding on your own terms.

If redundancy has prompted you to question what comes next, our Discovery Days offer a no-pressure way to explore your options.

They’re designed for conversation rather than commitment. It's a chance to ask honest questions, hear from people who’ve made similar transitions, and understand how the model could work for you.