Feeling stuck in a rut? Why 2024 is the perfect time to set up your own travel business

Last month, we released our inaugural Travel Tracker Report, which explores some of the hot topics shaping the future of the travel industry. And it’s safe to say that the best is yet to come for consumers and tour operators alike.

Not only are our forward bookings here at Travel Counsellors stronger than ever before, but the findings of our report have also reinforced that the sector is well and truly booming.

In this blog, we’re looking at the findings in more detail and showing why 2024 is the perfect time to set up your own franchise with us.

Demand for travel is high – so you’ll never be far from new customers

Despite financial pressures around the cost of living, it appears travel is a non-negotiable for many Brits. We asked consumers what their number one spending priority is for the next 12 months, and 45% of them said travel. This rose to 80% when we surveyed our existing customers. For these people, seeing the world comes before home renovations, purchasing new clothes, drinking and dining out, and leisure activities.

With such high demand comes plenty of opportunities for you to build a loyal customer base and make those all-important sales.

Healthy spending habits mean huge earning potential

During the past 12 months, the mean spend on overseas holidays has been £3,223. 10% of our respondents also said they’ve spent more than £7,000 on their trips in the last year. Further to this, 51% said they’ll spend the same on travel in the next year, but over 25% are delving deeper into their pockets and are looking to spend even more.

As a Travel Counsellor, your earnings are completely uncapped – while our in-house booking platform, Phenix, gives you total control over your margins. Just imagine the kind of money you could make when you come on board as a self-employed franchisee. The sky really is the limit!

Help customers tick off their travel bucket list

The USA is top of people’s travel bucket list for 2024, closely followed by Australia. These destinations often require bespoke itineraries to be pulled together, with visitors wanting to tick off multiple cities or locations during these kinds of long-haul trips.

That’s where Phenix comes into its own, allowing you to build the perfect trip for your customers using our extensive list of reputable suppliers and Destination Management Companies. Our intuitive system lets you build complex itineraries with ease, and send the quote over to your customers at the click of a button via the integrated myTC mobile app.

Be an advocate of sustainable travel

The focus on sustainable travel has intensified in recent years. Our research clearly shows that young adults are more eco-conscious. Nearly three-quarters of 16-24-year-olds would consider sustainable travel options, and over half are willing to pay extra for a sustainable holiday compared to 41% of all adults polled.

Breaking this down even further, the average Brit is willing to spend 14% on top of the existing price to ensure their holiday is more sustainable, whereas 16-24-year-olds would pay nearly a quarter more.

As a Travel Counsellor, you’ll be given the tools and products to help your customers travel in a more planet-friendly way – for example, access to our Green Leaf properties. These are hotels that have been recognised for their sustainable initiatives and are proven to maximise social and economic benefits for the local community.

The need for trusted travel advisors has never been greater

Over a third of our survey respondents said that had booked a holiday through a travel advisor in the last 12 months, with that rising to 53% among those with a household income in excess of £75k. The top reasons stated for booking through a travel advisor were:

• Saving time (40%)
• Access to expert advice (38%)
• Having someone there if plans change or things go wrong (25%)
• Getting a personalised service (29%)

With that in mind, if you join our community of trusted travel professionals, you can rest assured that your services will always be needed and appreciated.

We’re so excited about the year ahead, and we hope after reading this, you are too! If you’re looking to the future and wondering what next year could have in store for you, we can help you be in control of your own destiny. Whether you’re completely new to the travel industry or have years of experience under your belt, we have a route of entry to suit everyone.

Be your own boss, unleash your earning potential, and help people smash their travel goals in 2024! Enquire today and a member of our friendly New Franchise team will be in touch to get to know you a little better. Our inductions are already filling up throughout January and February, so make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to make next year your most exciting one yet.