“All the Travel Counsellors I’d met in my previous roles had something special about them.” - meet new business owner, Alison

In the fast-paced world of the travel industry, it takes a special kind of person to succeed as a Travel Counsellor. They must have a passion for exploring new places, an unwavering dedication to customer service, and a keen eye for detail. In Alison Nicholls’ previous roles, she regularly had the opportunity to speak to our business owners – and she soon realised our community was a special place to be. So much so, that’s she’s now joined us as a business owner, realising her long-standing dream to run her own travel business.

Fresh from the launch of her franchise, we caught up with Alison to find out more about her background and why she knew she’d feel right at home in our caring community.

Lovely to meet you, Alison! Tell us a little bit about your career prior to becoming a Travel Counsellor

I studied business and tourism back in 1986 and my dream then was to have my own travel agency. Things took a different path, with two summers as a holiday rep overseas and then joining British Airways in reservations.

I subsequently had several roles at British Airways in leisure sales and marketing, before taking voluntary redundancy and getting further experience working for a tour operator. Following that, I became marketing manager for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

This additional knowledge I’d gained led to British Airways asking me to return as a partnerships manager, which involved managing relationships with tourist boards and hotel groups. It was a position I thoroughly enjoyed, and it enabled me to create an extensive network of contacts in the industry. I worked on building the airline’s route network, supporting with route launches to Marrakech, Las Vegas, Cancun, The Maldives, Punta Cana, St Kitts, and many more.

The next step for me was to increase my expertise in other markets outside of the UK, which led me to my next role as sales and marketing manager for Universal Studios Hollywood. I was responsible for driving visitation from Europe, the Middle East, and India - which was a wonderful experience and led to then becoming part of the team working on the wider Universal Parks & Resorts product.

Why did you want to set up your own travel business?

I wanted to make my initial dream to have my own travel business a reality. It was always there in the back of my mind as something I had yet to achieve in terms of a goal I had set myself.

How did you know Travel Counsellors was right for you?

During my time at British Airways and Universal, I had encountered many Travel Counsellors on various fam trips, and they all had that certain something special. I also attended a few Travel Counsellors conferences and even recorded a ‘TCTV’ episode at their Support Hub. Because I’d met so many business owners and colleagues, I knew it was somewhere where I’d fit in.

What do you think sets Travel Counsellors apart from other travel franchises out there?

To be honest, I never researched any others as I knew that the 30-year success of Travel Counsellors, and the investment in people and technology, meant the best in terms of support for my business. Plus, you have to recognise all the unquestionable care that there is for the customer. The Trustpilot reviews say it all.

How did you find the recruitment and induction process?

The recruitment process was so seamless and the induction was brilliant – both in terms of the topics covered and the pace of learning. Plus, the ongoing training opportunities are endless. The weekly ‘launchpad’ calls provide a way to continue to discuss any issues and share best practice. Meanwhile, the WhatsApp group with my fellow inductees is fantastic. We really do support each other, not just by answering questions but by celebrating the wins and motivating each other.

What are you looking forward to most about being a Travel Counsellor?

I’m looking forward to the variety of enquiries and truly getting to know my clients and spending time curating the perfect trips for them. It’s reassuring knowing that there is a huge team of experts within the community who are on hand to help where my knowledge might be a little lacking.

What are your goals for your business?

My aim is to grow the business so that it takes me long into retirement, as I don't think my passion for travel will ever wane. As long as I have the mental capacity, I want to keep making dreams a reality for as many clients as I can.

What personal qualities do you think someone needs to become a Travel Counsellor?

You need to be resilient, as you won’t win every booking. It’s important to not take this personally. You never know, that potential client might still come back to you in the future. You also need to truly care and provide a level of service that goes beyond the norm every time.

Why would you recommend Travel Counsellors to entrepreneurial people who have a passion for travel?

If you are a people person with a passion for travel then you will succeed, and it is all in your power to be as successful as you want to be - the tools and support are there, you just need to take the leap!

Has Alison inspired you to follow in her footsteps? If you’re passionate about travel and ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship, Travel Counsellors is here to support you every step of the way. With a welcoming community, comprehensive support, and a proven business model, there’s no better place to start your own travel business. Want to learn more about what we can offer? Book onto one of our upcoming events to find out more about our life-changing franchise opportunities.