Turning tour operator experience into business ownership: Pete’s story

After 16 years working for a tour operator, Pete knew travel inside out.

His career began in banking, followed by a period of travelling before he found his place in the industry. In his previous role at a leading tour operator specialising in tailormade trips, he built extensive experience selling first and business class travel before moving into a Duty Manager role.

Taking the leap into business ownership

Despite his experience, becoming a business owner brought a new challenge: finding his own clients.

“I was never worried about being able to sell travel,” Pete explains. “I’d been excelling at that for a long time. It was the fear of having to generate my own leads.”

Pete had already heard positive stories from colleagues who had made the move to Travel Counsellors. Our ethos really stood out to him, giving him the confidence to take the leap.

His advice to anyone considering the same journey is simple: follow the plan, be yourself and give it time.

“There will be some slow days, but use that time to plan,” he says.

You’re never building your business alone

From the very beginning, Pete found that he wasn’t building his business alone. The training gave him a strong foundation, while the encouragement to connect with other franchise owners created an immediate sense of community.

Having already worked alongside many Travel Counsellors in his previous role helped, but he quickly discovered that support was available across the entire network.

That support became particularly important during the Covid pandemic.

“I’m very self-sufficient, so tend to solve my own problems,” Pete says. “But when we all needed that ‘hug’, Travel Counsellors were always trying to put the most positive thoughts forward at each stage.”

For Pete, this combination of independence and encouragement has been one of the most valuable parts of being a Travel Counsellor.

Growing through trusted relationships

Today, Pete has grown his business primarily through word of mouth. While networking played an important role earlier on, his client base has developed naturally through the trusted relationships he’s built over time.

His experience shows that there’s no single route to building a successful travel business. For some, networking may be central to their strategy. For others, loyal clients and personal recommendations may become the foundation of their growth.

The rewards of being your own boss

One of the biggest rewards for Pete is the flexibility that comes with running his own business, allowing him to balance work and family life in a way that suits him.

That flexibility, however, doesn’t mean the journey is effortless.

“Don’t be under the impression that it’ll be easy,” he says. “Be prepared to work hard and sacrifice some long days and weeks to your desk. The positives will follow.”

Why Travel Counsellors feels like home

“The personalities at Head Office make it feel like an extension of family and home life,” he says. “There’s a genuine warmth that emanates from each interaction with the support team.”

It’s this sense of belonging, alongside the practical business support, that makes Travel Counsellors feel like somewhere where he can truly thrive.

Advice for aspiring Travel Counsellors

For anyone worried about taking the leap, Pete recommends speaking to as many Travel Counsellors as possible. Everyone will have different goals, ambitions and personal circumstances, so hearing a range of experiences can help you decide whether the opportunity is right for you.

He also advises aspiring business owners to think about what they want their business to look like in five years and create a strategy to get there — without putting too much pressure on themselves at the start.

“It’ll take time and there will be bumps ahead,” Pete says. “But there are plenty of people who have had the same fears as you and have gone on to build very successful businesses.”

Meet Pete and discover the Travel Counsellors community for yourself at our Annual Conference

One of the best ways to understand what life as a Travel Counsellor could look like is to experience the community for yourself. That’s why Pete encourages anyone serious about starting their own travel business to attend the Travel Counsellors Conference Discovery Day.

“Get a feel for the room. Soak in the enthusiasm and realise that there’s a big machine behind the scenes who will be your biggest cheerleaders”, Pete says.

Join us in Manchester on Saturday 14th November, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet Pete and hear more about his journey as part of our Discovery Day panel.

You’ll also have the opportunity to see how our business model works, ask questions and find out how the wraparound support could help you build a successful travel business of your own — all while getting a sneak peek at our flagship event.

Places are limited, so don’t delay securing yours. Register today!