“There was so much missing in the five years I was away” - why Becky rejoined Travel Counsellors

Meet Becky Bamford, who has recently rejoined our community. Having been a Travel Counsellor for 18 years previously, Becky decided to pursue other opportunities.

Speaking of her decision to move on, Becky said: “For personal reasons, I left to pursue new horizons. It was a sad day as my whole 18 years with Travel Counsellors had been wonderful and I loved the people. I made so many lifelong friendships. I found the camaraderie the best I have ever experienced in the industry and being Gold for 11 of my 18 years changed my life outlook. The power that Travel Counsellors gave me to ‘walk tall’ will be with me forever.”

Becky took up a role with UK Government, looking after their business travel, which later took her to work stateside in Phenix, Arizona in their prestigious VIP First Team. After a few years, she wanted to be back working for UK clients and took up roles for a wealth travel management company before moving to another TMC..

Becky said: “They were very good roles, but I was itching to come back to Travel Counsellors and give it another go. There was so much missing from my roles in the five years I was away. I quickly learned that I wanted to be back in control of my own destiny and not be under the thumb of a manager. There’s nothing that compares to being at Travel Counsellors.”

“The training is world-class"

In July 2025, Becky took the leap of faith and came back to Travel Counsellors – and although there was lots to learn and catch up on, it also felt like she’d never left.

Speaking of her induction process, Becky said: “Having previously held some big roles within the world of business travel, I can hand-on-heart say that the training offered by Travel Counsellors is in a class of its own. Anything and everything you could possibly come across as a Travel Counsellor is covered.

“And after the initial training is done, there are so many ongoing opportunities to continue your learning – forums, videos, online modules, and the first-hand knowledge of the community. It’s all there to tap into. I have to say that talking to all my old Head Office friends on the training calls made me a tad emotional! It’s honestly like a family.”

So, what would Becky’s advice be to corporate travel professionals who aren’t feeling fulfilled in their current role and are perhaps considering setting up their own corporate travel business?

“You have to go in with your eyes open”, said Becky. “It’s not a guaranteed success. You will get bad periods - periods that will test you and your willpower to overcome. But then again, if you work hard and utilise all the support that Travel Counsellors offer, you will get great success that will change your life. It’s in your hands, and that’s the key.

“If you feel held back, have poor leadership, are battling with systems that aren’t fit for purpose, or are victim to micromanagement and internal politics, it’s a great opportunity to set yourself free. You can set your own working hours, work to your own targets, and build something that’s yours. You can place your own future in your hands.”

Becky’s final words of wisdom? “It’s not all about the money – it’s about happiness in life.”

Are you ready to take back control?

If you’re currently working in corporate travel and are feeling bogged down by any of the red flags Becky has mentioned above, we can help you find freedom, flexibility, and uncapped earning potential – all with the backing of a billion-pound business and a supportive community.

To get a feel for what we’re all about, join us at one of our relaxed Discovery events to take a deeper dive into how we can help you unleash your potential.