2025 NJT Magazine by The Travel Franchise

NJT LIFE Switch Careers

What makes us Britain’s favourite cruise line?

Exceptional value. Extraordinary holidays. That’s what.

With so much variety on a P&O Cruises holiday, your customers don’t have to restrict themselves to just one type of travel. And we believe they won’t find a holiday elsewhere that can offer them the breadth of diverse destinations, choice of experiences and calibre of dining and entertainment (did we forget to mention premium accommodation?) for the same price.

That’s why no other cruise line serves more British holidaymakers on cruises out of the UK. That’s also why two in every three guests choose to sail with us again. And that’s why you can trust us to provide unbeatable holidays for your customers.

TUI. MORE THAN JUST A BEACH HOLIDAY

As one of the worlds largest tour operators we are proud to be also part or Marella Cruises, TUI River cruises and Crystal Ski Holidays.

BOOK WITH YOUR LOCAL

Not Just Travel Consultant

EDITOR’S LETTER CONTENTS

GSam Lewis has edited and published hundreds of travel articles in Travel Weekly, ABTA magazine, National Geographic Traveller UK, The Times online and AOL Travel

rowing up in the 1980s, I fondly remember booking our annual family overseas holiday through a travel agent after hours of flicking through glossy travel brochures. By 2000, the internet had radically changed the way we all planned and booked our holidays with most trips booked online. The future looked bleak for agents with many heralding their demise due to the rise of the big Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia and lastminute.com.

Fast forward 20-odd years and travel agents have not followed in the footsteps of dinosaurs. In fact, they have arguably become the backbone of the industry. Many provided indispensable support during the pandemic going beyond the call of duty to get clients back home before borders shut because they cared. Their actions resulted in loyal customers and ultimately thriving businesses.

Far from bleak, the future is bright for many in the travel industry, particularly for agents who specialise, adopt new technology and marketing tools to stay competitive, and crucially add value for their customers.

This magazine explains how joining The Travel Franchise (TTF) enables you to launch your own Not Just Travel (NJT) agency, despite having never worked in the travel industry before, in under a week.

It recounts the stories of people who have switched careers and are now successful homeworking travel consultants. Some work part time, others full time. Some earn six-figure salaries, others earn a modest income, enjoying an attractive work/life balance and incredible travel perks too. Ultimately, it’s your business. You decide.

Sam Lewis

EDITOR

Our company, your business

The leaders

Discover more about Not Just Travel’s co-founders Steve Witt and Paul Harrison

Get paid for relationship marketing

How a homeworking travel franchise can provide you with an incredible salary

The Travel Franchise package prices

How our franchise options fit part-timers, full-timers or anyone looking for a side hustle

Is The Travel Franchise for you?

Is now the time for a career change? Why our business works for a range of people

The sky’s the limit

Travel trends and forecasts. Why now’s the time to launch a booming travel business

The security a franchise offers

Why a franchise is the best way to launch a successful business… fast

Leaders in the franchise field

Seven reasons why The Travel Franchise stands out from the crowd

What can our travel agents sell?

How we’ve helped hundreds of people start successful homeworking travel agencies 8 29

NJT’s relationship with Hays Travel, the UK’s biggest independent travel agency

Big travel brands we partner with including Gold Medal and Classic Collection

Why booking through an agent adds value for the customer and peace of mind

The holidays our agents can sell as a package or tailormade break, plus trips for NJT agents

Our partner Hoseasons reveals UK trends.

Plus: New UK attractions coming soon

Why cruising is a dynamic and lucrative area for personal travel consultants

Our

Don’t miss the time of year that commands big bookings and commission

How to find customers and keep them coming back again and again and again

How

How to plan your business growth with our unique career pathway

Meet the McCardies, the consultants hitting the £10m sales jackpot

stars making big bookings

New recruits flying high, making big bookings and commission

How to get your franchise for free.

Plus: Meet the agents who succeeded

Expert training, ongoing support and the investment we give your business

Websites, booking platforms and video marketing tools to grow your agency fast

How our new travel deals app can help you stay in touch with customers

The business development managers (BDMs) who will mentor and advise you

Some of the unique educational trips abroad we offer our consultants

80 Seminar at Sea: 2022 and 2023

Our pioneering company cruise for agents who want to become cruise experts

86 Meet the team

The talented people we’ve recruited to help your business scale up quickly

90 Eamonn Holmes joins us

Why the champion of daytime TV is now a champion of TTF

94 Sporting chance

Daley Thompson on business, sport, plus why he is our brand champion

98 Our TV-star brand ambassador

Why presenter Hayley Sparkes has come on board to help consultants

Help us preserve the planet we love to explore! Please recycle our sustainable magazine or pass on to a friend

As Sustainability Champion of the Year 2022, we are constantly looking at ways to protect the planet and empower our agents and their customers. This NJT magazine is printed on FSC-certified recylcled paper with eco-friendly vegetable based inks. Please share or recycle.

101

Be part of something special

The lifestyle, friendships and industry recognition for agents and Not Just Travel

102

Agents at home and away

Consultants share their snapshots of their garden offices, pets and educationals

106

Company conferences

What goes on at our annual conferences –from 2024 in the UK and abroad!

108 120

Awards & agent achievements

How our pioneering initiatives and agents’ success result in industry awards

Be a champion of sustainability

How we help people and the planet and how consultants can help too

Editor: Sam Lewis

Designer: Silvia Dimitrova

Sub editor: Kerry Baggott

Contributers: Jo O’Connell and Dan McDevitt

Head of sales: Jenny Farenden

Onboarding manager: Ivrie Cohen

Marketing campaign manager: Veneta Stefanova

Communications manager: Zlatomira Yankova

Publisher: Page Bros (Norwich) Ltd

A letter from the founders

Welcome to the latest Not Just Travel (NJT) magazine, a place to showcase the incredible business model behind The Travel Franchise (TTF), a company that enables anyone – including you – to follow their dreams and become a home-based travel entrepreneur.

In just a few years, we’ve disrupted the travel franchise sector in the UK and become the market leaders in helping people with zero experience set up and run their very own successful home-based agency.

Story after story, we will share with you the success and achievements of people who, not long ago, didn’t even know an opportunity like this existed. People who were unhappy with their jobs; who deep down knew there had to be a better way to earn a living to give them a more enjoyable work/life balance.

These stories will show how ordinary people, many who had never worked in travel before, acquired new skills and gained

financial achievement, industry recognition, rekindled purpose and a better quality of life for themselves or their families.

In this issue, we introduce you to some of the members of our talented corporate team who help our entire operation run like clockwork and whose sole objective is to help, support and mentor our travel consultants.

We also highlight our key trade partners whose fabulous holidays our agents can sell, confident in the knowledge that what they are selling is fully protected by the official travel industry bodies, such as ABTA and ATOL.

Our success is dependent on our agents’ success and, as a result, we’ve won many awards including ‘Homeworking Travel Agency of the Year’ more than 10 times.

If you’re thinking of changing careers, read on... we’re sure this magazine will tempt you to become part of our team in an exciting year that, despite industry challenges, has seen us celebrate record growth.

Paul and Steve

Our company your business

The Travel Franchise answers your questions about launching your own travel business from scratch

For two years Covid-19 wreaked havoc on business but, on reflection, it wasn’t all bad. Numerous industries were forced to adapt and change and, as people started to work from home and became familiar with this concept, many seized the moment, changing careers and launching new homebased businesses with passion and drive.

Not Just Travel has been at the forefront of this trend for many years, helping entrepreneurs launch their own travel business despite having never worked in

the industry before. As the number-one company in the UK for people with zero travel experience, we know what it takes to set up and run a thriving home-based travel agency and have proven that this model works.

While our competitors recruit from within the travel industry, we recognise that those from other professions have many crossover skills and the ability to learn and succeed too. So, whether you’re an estate agent, hairdresser or biochemist, we help you set up and start your business from scratch.

Can you join The Travel Franchise without any experience in travel?

Almost all of our franchisees have never worked in travel before and two thirds have never worked for themselves either. More than 66 per cent start their journey with us part time, so they can keep their existing job until their business grows. And it does.

What new business owners bring to the table are their contacts, passion and work ethic. In a nutshell, they find people to sell holidays to and, if we ensure those holidays are competitive, their customers will come back again and again and again.

Our travel consultants have proved that with our training and expertise, there is real money to be made.

QQ Q Q

How will I find customers when I first join?

According to The New York Times, every one of us knows about 600 people. You may not think you do, but when you add up parents at a local school, acquaintancies at your gym or sports club, your neighbours, not to mention family and friends, you’ll soon get to 600.

In fact, without doing anything, you probably already know enough people to build a fantastic business with us – even if you only book a holiday for a quarter of your contacts. So there’s no need to go knocking on doors, cold calling or paying for advertising.

You may not be an expert when you join, but our trainers will get you up to speed in no time

We will show you how to attract and meet infinitely more people, especially those who want to travel the world. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love to travel?

Do customers book holidays with people who have no former travel experience?

People buy from people, especially those they know, like and trust. Our business model is based upon relationship marketing, which means our travel consultants begin by arranging holidays for people they know and who trust them to arrange the best trip their budget can buy.

You may not be an expert when you join, but our trainers will get you up to speed in no time. You’ll be allocated a business development manager (BDM) and enjoy support from our operations team – all of whom have a lifetime of experience in the travel industry. You’ll also have the chance to train with our suppliers who provide everything from package holidays to weddings. Plus, we’ve also recently launched a cruise division with the opportunity to study and become an expert in cruising.

What sort of holidays can I sell to my clients?

We are part of the Hays Travel Independence Group with over £2bn worth of travel buying power, enabling you to sell a vast variety of escapes at competitive prices. As a Not Just Travel consultant, you’ll sell a range of holidays – protected by industry bodies such as ABTA and the ATOL scheme – from over 450 tour operators. You’ll have access to trade-only travel supplier deals, and the option to add car hire, travel insurance and tours.

Why is now the right time to launch a travel business?

Q Q

Covid-19 has not just encouraged more people to start home businesses, it has also encouraged people to make the most of their time off and travel the world with the people they love the most. Yet, times are still uncertain – and this is where you can fill a gap. More than ever before, holidaymakers now want support from a real person who can help them make last-minute changes. As their personal travel consultant, you can handle any amendments, reschedule reservations and assist with refunds. With our team on hand to advise you, you can remove any stress, ensuring your customers return again and again and again.

More than ever before, holidaymakers now want support from a real person who can help them make last-minute changes

If I start my own travel agency will I still be part of a team?

Yes. Our consultants are independent business owners but are never alone. With over 550 travel consultants and a corporate team over 70 strong, there’s an incredible community spirit and support network. We encourage collaboration and hold all kinds of events, both online and in person, where members can exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences.

Q

Will I travel and get to meet the entire NJT team in person?

Yes. We run a range of overseas retreats, ski and golf trips and host several annual conferences where you can establish longstanding professional relationships and friends. Agents can also join educational trips all around the world, hosted by our key trade partners. Finding an environment like this is really special and it is the glue that binds everyone together… there is always someone at the end of the phone ready to help.

The leaders

What makes a company great? Is it the way it treats its staff? Its guiding principles of transparency? Its culture? Its vision? The answer is yes to all of the above. And the people who create that greatness are its leaders – the founders who can form multimillion-pound empires out of nothing but an idea.

Leaders embody a company’s vision and mission from the heart. They build talented teams around them and create vital employment to countless people. Leaders disrupt industries by creating something new. They are captains of the ship, traversing sometimes challenging waters while bringing everyone on the trip with them.

To understand the journey that The Travel Franchise (TTF) and Not Just Travel (NJT) is on, let’s get to know the founders who power it, its origins and learn how every valuable member is an embodiment of the culture and lifestyle they create.

The co-founders

Our co-founders Paul and Steve are no strangers to success, having both enjoyed highly successful individual careers before meeting in 2009. However, not everything has turned to gold and one particular failure hit them hard… In fact, they will tell you that this is where they learnt their most valuable lessons, both in business and in life.

History

In 2001 Steve bought a travel franchise from a UK company but did not enjoy or rate the experience. In the back of his mind he always thought he could “do something much better” but his newlyformed internet business began to really explode and the thought was put on the back burner.

At roughly the same time, Paul left his career in banking

to become a home-based distributor with a network marketing company and, after a slow start, quickly became a leader in his field, building sales teams in over 100 countries, personally making over seven figures with two US MLM companies. The guys met by chance via a mutual friend in 2009, months before the financial crash and recession, and lost everything experiencing great personal debt. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as miraculously this hardship is where the idea for today’s Not Just Travel was born.

Partnership

Having only really known each other a few months, and now at their lowest ebb, they decided to go into business together to create The Travel Franchise and Not Just Travel. Without any experience

in franchising and with only Steve having limited travel experience, their friends exclaimed: “You are mad. You are starting a business in the world’s biggest industry, with zero experience and without a penny between you, taking on major blue chip companies… How do you expect to succeed?”

Looking back, the guys will concede they had a point. However, it’s surprising what can be achieved when two talented individuals have their backs to the wall and the bit between their teeth with nothing to lose.

Pioneering spirit

Initially, when getting started, Paul and Steve analysed the industry and their competition. As the new kids on the block, they decided they would do things differently and be

more innovative. They took the incredibly bold decision to build their business with people who are new to travel, rather than people who have travel experience.

The first few years were a huge learning curve. It wasn’t until 2013, just after they launched the unique Money-Back Challenge and Millionaires Retreat, that they realised they were on to something really big, and this is where they became partners with one sole focus.

Investment and vision

As we look at the business today, Not Just Travel (NJT) has become an industry disrupter. Over 900 people have invested in the franchise and started a business.

The company has been nominated and won numerous industry awards and Paul and Steve have also been nominated and won national entrepreneur awards outside the travel industry with the likes of Lloyds Bank, Daily Telegraph, TSB and Starling Bank, to name a few.

The future

When the company achieved the milestone of annual sales in excess of £100m, the focus switched to building an outstanding corporate team.

In 2023 NJT recruited some of the best talent in the industry (see p86) creating a world-class environment to enable partners to achieve their full potential.

Paul Harrison

A HISTORY OF SUCCESS

Paul made a concerted effort early in his career to change his mentality and learn the skills necessary to succeed. He travelled the world as a home-based entrepreneur building sales teams in over 100 countries and has enjoyed three major seven–figure successes. A corporate role led him to help others succeed and now his focus is teaching and inspiring other entrepreneurs. Having walked the walk for 20 plus years he’s certainly qualified!

“My mission is to inspire others to be open to the possibilities that a better future is ahead. No one wants to pay the bills and die, there is so much more to life if we can find a vehicle to succeed.”

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Steve Witt

THE NON-STOP SERIAL INVENTOR

A former firefighter and champion windsurfer, Steve has been a serial entrepreneur since he was 16. After founding one of the first-ever online UK shopping sites, he created one of the first monthly internet subscription services as an alternative to slow dial-up services, then launched virtual web-hosting firm, UKDomains selling it for a small fortune.

“My eureka moment was walking off stage at Wembley Stadium having launched a new internet service, knowing that by helping thousands of people make money, I’d also do the same. I’ve followed the same business model ever since”

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In focus: Paul Harrison

If you’re thinking of investing in a franchise, you’ll get the chance to chat to co-founder Paul Harrison and if you become an agent, you’ll probably join him on a company retreat. So what makes the working-class lad from Liverpool tick?

Paul discovered early in his career that business is all about who you know, which is why he began diligently building his personal contact list all over the world and continues to do so even today.

His first success saw him build a team of distributors in over 100 countries and travel the world speaking in front of tens of thousands of people in places like Brazil and Russia to name a few.

Knowing that relationships are the key to success, in both business and in life, he developed his own style of sales and recruiting. He believes it is his ‘down-to-earth’ personality that has helped him build both his network marketing teams of over 50,000 distributors and also attract nearly 1,000 franchisees to join Not Just Travel (NJT).

However, he is quick to point out that it hasn’t always been a bed of roses. After his initial breakthrough success in 2006 he lost everything in the 2009 recession. He recalls lying in bed for two weeks in a state of depression before deciding: “I’ve done it once, I can do it again”.

It was this mindset shift that helped him achieve his second major success in 2012 whilst he was starting to build Not Just Travel and The Travel Franchise.

With three major home runs and over £4m in personal commissions, Paul has discovered many of the secrets to success in

his industry but is adamant that his greatest learnings have been in the times of failure, especially when he lost it all.

Today, Paul and Steve have built a huge business with nearly 100 staff and over 550 successful franchisees. Their mission now is to create a world-class environment for their partners to succeed and this has led to many innovative ideas.

Paul’s business mantra is that in order to build the business you build the people, and this is why both personal and business development play a huge part in the infrastructure of Not Just Travel.

Co-founders Paul Harrison and Steve Witt are both hands-on across all aspects of the company.

But while Steve enjoys the business development and operations side of NJT, Paul loves recruiting new talented franchisees.

How to balance life and still make money

In search of financial freedom? A franchise could provide more money than a nine ‘til five job

40 40 40

If you’ve ever heard of the 40-40-40 plan you may wonder why people have steadfastly followed it for years. The idea is that you work 40 hours a week, for a gruelling 40 years of your life, so you can then retire on about 40 per cent of your annual earnings. Only to discover it’s not enough.

To make things worse, many of us end up working unpaid overtime, working 40, 50 or 60 hours a week, chasing a career that forces us to make sacrifices and miss moments in life that are really important to us, be that with family, friends, doing sport, hobbies or travel.

While the idea that we have to sacrifice our time to earn money is logical, what if there was a better way – a solution that allowed you to work from home and have the flexibility to choose the hours you work?

Power of relationship marketing

Owning a franchise that utilises the power of relationship marketing can provide that solution, giving all the advantages of owning your business while mitigating risk. Not only can you set it up quickly and make it your full-time career, but you could also leverage the power of your contacts to top up your income while you keep an existing job.

Many of us recommend brands and products every day, yet very few of us get paid for it. We post on social media about restaurants, fashion, food and often organise holidays for our friends and family, never thinking that we could actually financially benefit from our recommendations.

With The Travel Franchise it’s different. You plan and recommend holidays to your network, we provide the booking system and product and you get paid a commission.

What are you waiting for?

Takeyour pick

The Travel Franchise has a range of packages for people who want to work full time, part time or anytime. Each one provides an instant travel agency. Which one is best for you?

1

ENTRY LEVEL

package

Our most cost-effective start-up ‘Lite’ package is aimed at anyone who wants to dip their toe in the water. It contains comprehensive training, head office support, a personalised website, access to our Climate Hero programme and all the software you need to book hundreds of protected holidays with over 450 tour operators. With prices from just £2,995 + VAT, it’s no wonder it’s so popular.

3

package BEST FOR BIG BUSINESS PLANS

Our ‘Entrepreneur’ package is aimed at business owners who want to build a larger agency as fast as possible. This package includes all the added extras you’ll find in the Elite package and more, including access to expert one-to-one mentoring, higher commission levels, and ultimately the chance to make a lot of money. £29,995 + VAT.

2

TOP PERFORMER

package

The majority of our travel consultants purchase the ‘Elite’ package. One attraction is our Money-Back Challenge, an initiative where we refund the franchise fee if you sell enough holidays in a set time period (see p58). Other highlights include our trips to Millionaire’s Retreats and Elite Experiences overseas (see p75), plus the option to sign up and train to become a cruise expert. £14,995 + VAT.

Envisage how you’d like your life and business. How much spare time do you have? This will help you choose the right package for you

Is switching career a good move for you?

Our consultants come from many different backgrounds and join The Travel Franchise for numerous reasons. Here are some of their stories – do any sound familiar?

“I wanted ownership of a business that I could fit around my kids, in an industry that would be fun, enjoyable and also make others happy.”

The networking mum

TRY.... THE LITE OR ELITE PACKAGE

“We hated our jobs and wanted to switch careers. This is a business we can run from home with opportunities to travel together too.”

The canny couple

TRY... THE ELITE PACKAGE

“A travel business that fits like a glove with my existing business and which I can run side by side. Joining The Travel Franchise was a ‘no-brainer’.”

The eager entrepreneur

TRY... THE ENTREPRENEUR PACKAGE

“I wanted to work a few hours a week from home and boost my income by doing something that I love: organising holidays for other people.”

The savvy singleton

TRY... THE LITE PACKAGE

“I wanted to be my own boss and to work in travel full time, any time, any place, anywhere.”

The passionate traveller

TRY... THE ELITE PACKAGE

“One franchise fee, multiple business owners. The Travel Franchise can give friends and families everything they need to set up a joint business in a week.”

The family business

TRY... THE ELITE PACKAGE

The sky’s the limit

Considering a career change?

Why there’s never been a better time to start a travel business

1 2

Personal travel agents are in demand

The trend for consumers to seek more guidance and reassurance when booking their holidays continues unabated. According to the latest travel trends report from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the proportion of people who booked a holiday with a travel professional in the 12 months to August 2024 rose to 38%, up from 34% in the year to 2023. Our agents are busier than ever with record sales every month in 2024.

ABTA research reveals holidays are at a 10-year high

In 2024, 84% of travellers took more holidays than in previous years, with young families leading the way as the most frequent travellers. According to ABTA, the average person went on 3.9 holidays in 2024, up from 3.4 in 2023, matching the highest level seen in the last decade (2019). In 2025, ABTA believes more people will seek new experiences in far-flung destinations – the kind of trips best organised by a knowledgeable agent!

3

Commissions and agent incentives are rising

The latest Marriott Bonvoy research reveals that more than a third of Brits plan to take additional holidays in 2025, creating more commission opportunities for agents. At the same time, operators are competing for agent business by offering incentives such as highstreet shopping vouchers.

4

Consultants that specialise are reaping the rewards

Many savvy agents are becoming experts in specialist breaks that attract high-paying repeat clients. These include areas such as cruise, a huge growth sector with some of the highest commissions in travel. Since the launch of our 12-month Cruise Mastery Programme in 2022 we’ve seen cruise sales triple as our agents master the art of selling lucrative cruise holidays. Meanwhile, adventure holidays is another product that typically offers high commission.

5

Travel perks including FAM trips, and tours are popular

It’s no secret that travel agents get low-cost subsidised breaks and educational trips (known as FAM or familiarisation trips) to learn about the places and products they’re selling. Successful consultants find that many suppliers are keen to host them and boost business plus give behind-the-scenes tours of new ships and hotels too.

6

The feel good factor is here to stay. You can make a difference

Booking people’s dream holidays is incredibly satisfying, as is helping out when things go wrong. During the pandemic, airport delays, forest fires and industry strikes, some tourists needed help switching flights last-minute. Many of our agents found this a postive. By advising on flexible sales and refunds, they established lasting relationships and repeat clients. Meanwhile, some help people who need holidays the most (see p98).

“People have recognised the huge benefits of getting expert help and advice when booking their holidays”

Graeme Buck

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AT ABTA (ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS)

Is a franchise

for you?

Why franchising is the smart business solution for entrepreneurs eager to minimise risks and maximise profits

QWhat is a franchise?

When an established business owner or ‘franchisor’ sells the rights to use their company name, trademarks and business model to independent operators, called ‘franchisees’. Usually there is a one-off franchise fee, plus an ongoing percentage of sales revenue and other fees. Having

If you’ve considered changing careers, leaving an old job or becoming your own boss over the past year, you’re certainly not alone.

There’s been a massive shift in mood in the workplace after many of us took a break from the daily grind during the pandemic and decided we wanted to take control of our lives and careers like never before.

But, if you’ve been dreaming of launching a business for the first time, what is the probability of it being successful?

Tools for survival

Statistics indicate that over half of new start-ups fail in the first two years. So how do you prevent this from happening? Research shows that investing in a franchise can set you up with all the tools for survival with under 4 per cent of franchises failing each year, according to the British Franchise Association (BFA)

a proven business plan, training and support from a team of experienced people means franchises typically have a higher success rate than start-up businesses. If you want to find out more, try reading books like these by Carl Reader or Len Rainford.

which produces an annual report in partnership with NatWest and estimates that franchising contributes up to £17bn per year to the UK economy.

A turnkey business

Co-founder of The Travel Franchise Paul Harrison says: “Franchising offers all the benefits of being your own boss yet with all the resources of a bigger company. It provides a simple solution: a turnkey business with all the tools, training and support you need to open and operate quickly using a tried-andtested formula that alleviates

some of the common fears and concerns often caused when starting a company from scratch.”

Proven record

Harrison’s business partner, Steve Witt, agrees, attributing the success of numerous franchises to the fact that many offer a well-trodden path to profit.

A franchise provides all the tools, training and support you need to start from scratch

“With a franchise you have a readymade company and a proven record.

By following the advice and business plans of those who have succeeded ahead of you, you can literally copy and paste what they did and know it works.

“Anyone starting a new business quickly finds that they have to wear a lot of hats and the learning curve is steep,” adds Witt. “Straight away, a new business owner will become their own brand manager, accountant, lawyer, web designer and salesman all at the same time. It’s overwhelming. With a franchise, you get to share those roles with people who are there to help you.”

Fast track to success

BFA’s research reveals that over 90 per cent of franchises are indeed profitable within the first two years of business with 50 per cent turning over more than £250,000 annually and proving resilient – even in times of recession due to investment by the parent company.

But is buying a franchise expensive? That depends on what business you want to buy.

Franchise costs

There are now thousands of well-known franchise businesses specialising in everything from travel to food. Yet, while big brand recognition is a huge selling point, it comes at a price. For example, a McDonalds franchise can cost up to £1m, which means you’ll have to sell a lot of burgers to pay that fee back. By opting for a smaller franchise business,

you’ll be presented with more budget-friendly packages and have greater freedom to be creative. But, says Harrison, it’s vital you do your research first: “Weigh up what you are getting for your money and sift out the good from the bad. You want to look at the company’s track record and even chat to its current franchisees to get their take.”

The complete package

An established franchise should have a marketing tool kit and resources. There will be promotional materials such as a website, leaflets

“Be your own boss, grow your own empire, develop yourself as a person”

Paul Harrison CO-FOUNDER

and logos already made for you and help on the legal side, offering policies and paperwork, where necessary, to solidify the buying process and protect both the buyer and the seller in any transaction. There will also be expert training and ongoing operational support in a variety of fields.

“Whatever your goal in life, and wherever you want to be, there is a franchise option out there for you,” says Harrison. “It’s a life-changing experience that is challenging but hugely rewarding.

“You can be your own boss, grow your own empire, develop yourself as a person and create the life you want for yourself and your family. As the saying goes, great things happen when you step outside your comfort zone!”

ABOUT OUR COMPANY

Travelpack have been established since 1981 helping clients in planning their perfect holiday break. We are one of the UK’s leading flight consolidators and tour operators, offering worldwide flights with all major airlines.

WE OFFER

• Worldwide flights

• Hotels

• Car hire

• Tours

• Cruise

• Excursions

• Holiday extras

• Group tours

• Theatre breaks

• Music & Concerts

• Sports

• Honeymoons & Weddings

• Adventure

• Safari

• Culture

• City breaks

• Out of date range

Leaders in the franchise field

Never worked in travel but want a front-row seat in the travel industry boom? Here’s seven reasons why The Travel Franchise and Not Just Travel stand out from the crowd

1 The success of our travel consultants

While some of our business owners are keen to be their own boss, choose their own flexible hours and work from home either part or full time, almost all have one thing in common: a desire to earn a good income. And they have proved that there is real money to be made. At The Travel Franchise, our most successful franchisees aren’t rare cases: they’re taking bookings of £100£300k in four weeks, £1m in three months, £160k in one booking – the case studies (see p52-55) are there for all to see.

2

Industryleading commissions

Our success is dependent on your success and we think you should be rewarded for your hard work. That’s why we’re proud of our industryleading commission rates – up to 75 per cent of your sales are yours to keep.

3

The unique Money-Back Challenge

Some of our travel agents perform so well, they win their initial franchise fee back with our Money-Back Challenge (p58). We are unique in that we are the only travel franchise that does this, giving owners the chance to earn their start-up business for free. Now that’s an incentive!

“98 per cent of our

franchisees

have never worked in travel before. And more than two thirds have never been self-employed”

Jenny Farenden

TTF

MARKETING DIRECTOR

4

Expert training, support, advice, investment and talent

We believe that success depends on people, training and support, which is why we invested over two million pounds in recruiting talent and technology in 2022 and 2023. Our business development managers (BDMs) have many years of experience and are never more than a reassuring message or insightful call away. We’re also proud to have a variety of experts on our board of advisors, including non-executive director Darren Thompson, who has been working for fast-growth companies for the past 25 years. “Following some very turbulent years in the travel industry, I believe that now is the right time to help the team grow and expand to become the UK’s leading holiday provider,” says Thompson.

5

Collaborative culture

If our consultants make more holiday bookings, we make more profit. It’s in our interest to invest in training, supporting and mentoring them. With shared goals, it’s no surprise that we celebrate the success of our extended travel family. Our founders are regularly on-hand at our overseas trips and events, investing time, as well as capital into the business they love. Our business owners support each other too, sharing tips and advice on forums and at our UK conferences. All this gives our franchisees the confidence that they may own their own business, but they are not alone.

We believe that many people have transferable skills and, given the right training and support, the sky’s the limit

6

Our (wide) open door policy

No matter your background, our doors are wide open: almost none of our members have ever worked in travel and more than two thirds have never been self employed. We are the number one franchise for people new to the travel industry. And you don’t have to work full time. Some of our members work part time or join to earn some extra cash as a side hustle. Quite simply we believe that many people have transferable skills and given the right training and support, the sky’s the limit.

7

Awards and recognition

When it comes to awards, our trophy cabinet is brimming. We’ve been voted Best Home Based Travel Franchise and are number 10 on the top franchise leaderboard across all industries. It’s also not unusual to see the names of co-founders Steve Witt and Paul Harrison on the shortlist for broader business awards due to their visionary and inspirational leadership which has also seen us win cruise awards (see p108).

Mauritius

MALDIVES • SEYCHELLES • OMAN • DUBAI • ABU DHABI • RAS

AL KHAIMAH

Seychelles

Oman

Mauritius

Abu Dhabi

What do we sell?

If you’re wondering what type of holidays you can book as a Not Just Travel agent, the answer is simple: everything

Acosy cottage with a steaming hot tub and crackling fire in the Scottish Highlands. An intrepid walking safari staying at Kenya’s most luxurious lodges. A river cruise along the mighty Amazon or a fly-and-flop all-inclusive beach holiday in the Caribbean. Wherever your imagination takes you, your customers can follow when you become a travel agent with Not Just Travel. We hold a unique place at the heart of the Hays Travel family – the biggest independent travel agency group in the UK – and we benefit from its 40-plus years of experience and around £2bn a year in travel-buying power. That means, as a Not Just Travel agent, you can offer your customers a vast number of holidays, all at competitive prices.

Furthermore, with ABTA protection, everyone can relax from the moment they book knowing their holidays are protected by an official industry body.

We’ve also established strong relationships with key trade partners (KTPs), from luxury tour operators to cruise lines, which mean our agents get access to exclusive offers and assistance. Need help handcrafting a tailormade multi-centre trip to Antarctica? We have a trade partner who can help.

From the minute you finish induction training, you have access to our suite of travel booking IT software and can book a world of travel options, from package holidays to cruises or UK mini-breaks. As a Not Just Travel agent, the world is literally at your fingertips.

Meet NJT’s key trade partners

Our key trade partners (KTPs) provide expert training, advice, booking assistance, FAM trips, exclusive deals and more

Nichola Marston TRADE PARTNERSHIP MANAGER – HOMEWORKERS

GOLD MEDAL

Gold Medal is an award-winning long-haul tour operator giving agents access to 135 airlines and special rates at 100,000 hotels, plus car hire, tours, cruises and excursions.

“Not Just Travel is one of the fastest growing and innovative homeworking agencies – it’s a pleasure to work with them. We enjoy a strong, strategic partnership and over the next year we will continue to grow our relationship, through training, sharing and sourcing key offers and exclusive deals, as well as hosting many NJT agents on FAM (overseas educational) trips to help increase their product knowledge.”

Jorge Quibell

STRATEGIC ACCOUNT

MANAGER

– HOMEWORKERS CLASSIC COLLECTION

A leading business-to-business provider of tailormade and package holidays, working with over 4,000 hotel partners across more than 90 destinations in 37 countries.

“We’ve seen significant growth within the homeworking sector and, as a business, we’ve enhanced our support to homeworkers. Not Just Travel agents grew sales with us by 165% during the Covid pandemic. This is a real achievement. We are incredibly impressed with how quickly the company is growing. We’re excited to be working closely as a key trade partner and cannot wait to see what we can achieve together.”

WE ARE AMBASSADOR. THE PREMIUM VALUE NO-FLY CRUISE LINE OFFERING AN AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE AND THE WARMEST WELCOME AT SEA.

Ambassador Cruise Line, Britain’s first new cruise line since 2010, here to accompany the next era of travel. We aim to deliver an authentic, premium value cruising experience with a few innovative twists to help take our industry in a more sustainable and inspiring direction.

THE AMBASSADOR EXPERIENCE

Say hello to ease at sea. Our purpose is simple: we want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably.

As Britain’s newest cruise line, we’ve blended tradition and innovation for a truly timeless cruise experience that still makes you feel right at home.

We are passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, which is why our ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and is why there is no single-use plastic on board.

Our ship Ambience is IMO Tier III compliant, making it possible for her to sail to the most environmentally protected areas around the world. Join us on our journey to a more sustainable industry.

COME WITH US ON A VOYAGE OF EXPLORATION

We have plenty of breath-taking destinations and itineraries, leaving it up to our guests to decide where they would like their next adventure to begin. From sailing the British Isles to faraway lands such as Cuba and the Caribbean, our ships visit locations all around the world, providing guests with unforgettable voyages of exploration at every location. Whether they are avid cruisers or this is their first, there is an itinerary for everyone.

SAY HELLO TO BRITAIN’S PREMIUM VALUE CRUISE LINE

• Sailing from 7 UK ports from May 2023

• A premium value, authentic and traditional cruise experience at a fantastically affordable price

• Classic ships, with charming crews, sumptuous cuisine, and great entertainment

• Access to remote places and hidden treasures across the globe

• Some of the most environmentally friendly ships afloat

INTRODUCING OUR FLEET

AMBITION

Introducing our second lady of the sea and newest ship, Ambition. Aptly named to further emphasise our commitment to pioneering a new era of cruising where guests can enjoy an authentic experience effortlessly, and sustainably.

AMBIENCE

Here she is, our flagship of the fleet, our first lady of the sea: Ambience. Derived from the French word for ‘surrounding’, our mission at Ambassador is to create the optimum atmosphere on board; one that brings out the best in each of us. The perfect ambience.

With an average 1,400-guest capacity and careful configuration, she offers both a feeling of spaciousness and freedom. Guests will experience this as soon as they step into Centre Court, where the laid-back atmosphere greets them with the warmest of welcomes.

Ambition’s 1,200-guest capacity gives her a true sense of comfort and space while still maintaining a social atmosphere. Guests can sit back and relax in one of her four bars, lounges, or even the traditional British pub, enjoying the unique sense of intimacy upon this smaller-sized ship.

Competitive prices and protection

People are 36 per cent more likely to book with a travel professional, according to ABTA’s report Travel in 2023. Now is the perfect time to start up an agency

Before Covid, the key words for customers were: deal, discount, and offer. This changed, however, after many had a horrendous experience when flights stopped and bookings worldwide were cancelled in March 2020.

People went from fear to frustration to anger as they couldn’t get answers and were often stuck on hold for hour after hour.

Today, the key words for customers are: reassurance, security and protection. They want to speak with a real person, get their direct

contact details and know they are ABTA bonded. Not Just Travel co-founder Paul Harrison says: “Reassurance is key to customers since Covid.

“People want to know that ‘if’ there is an issue they can get in touch straight away and get answers and resolutions immediately.

“This trend has helped create the rise of the homeworker in travel as customers move away from the ‘do-it-yourself’ online and high-street shops.”

Organising a holiday of a lifetime is a prime example – a travel agent can not only save people precious time, they can also provide peace of mind and financial protection when things go wrong.

And it doesn’t cost the customer a penny.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the price charged to customers is generally the same whether travellers book through an agent or go direct.

“Reassurance is key to customers since Covid and ABTA membership provides that”

Paul Harrison CO-FOUNDER

Tailormade and

package holidays

Not Just Travel agents have a huge selection of packages at their fingertips and have the tools to tailormake complex multi-centre itineraries adding tours and other experiences

Beach

What’s new? Our partners TUI, easyJet and Jet2 have added new exciting routes from many UK regional airports for 2025

Weddings

Top tip: Weddings and honeymoons are a big earner for agents who can gain new customers by booking large groups of friends and family

Villas

Top tip: CV Villas can offer fully-staffed luxury villas for guests who want privacy and top quality service in stunning locations

Golf

Did you know? Not Just Travel organises a golf trip every year in exotic locations such as Mauritius for NJT agents who play the sport

City breaks

Top tip: Many agents increase commission by arranging a city break for clients embarking on a cruise from ports such as Barcelona and Miami

Ski

Don’t miss: Inghams offers ski breaks in 74 resorts in seven countries and often runs training webinars and hosts agents on fam trips

Adventure

Did you know?: G Adventures offers some of the highest commissions for agents with exciting itineraries to numerous destinations

Safaris

Top tip: Audley Travel says lodges offering walking safaris complement traditional 4WD game drives and give a different perspective of the bush

UK breaks

You don’t have to look too far to see that great opportunities to sell holidays and make money are right on your doorstep

Holidays don’t always involve heading overseas. As a Not Just Travel consultant you can sell a huge variety of UK breaks, from golf and spa stays in a country manor house to theatre getaways in luxury hotels in inspirational cities with shopping and nightlife on every street.

Hoseasons national account manager Sarah Smith says that as most Brits take several UK breaks in addition to a holiday abroad each year, staycations are a quick and easy way for agents

to boost commission.

“Agents continue to report a heavy demand for last-minute UK getaways with Hoseasons, in particular for short breaks to coastal cottages and countryside lodges, such as Clawford Lakes (pictured) that feature hot tubs and are dog-friendly too,” says Smith.

Meanwhile, many of our agents report continued demand for seacations: cruises that explore the incredible diversity of the British coastline and surrounding islands.

NEW HOTEL OPENINGS

Treehouse Hotel, Manchester: A 224-room nature-inspired hotel just a short stroll from the city centre, featuring a top-floor restaurant and a rooftop bar.

Corbyn Head Hotel, Torbay, Devon: Set to open in summer 2025, this four-star hotel will offer 152 rooms and stunning sea views.

The Hoxton, Edinburgh: Located in the vibrant Haymarket area, this hotel will offer 214 guest rooms across 11 Georgian townhouses.

Making waves

As one of the fastest growth areas in travel, cruising is a dynamic and lucrative area for agents keen to dip their toe in the water. With so much to gain, it’s time to get on board

With record bookings and 56 new ships set to launch by 2028, including 11 in 2025, the future of the cruise industry looks exceptionally bright, offering substantial opportunities for those looking to specialise cruise travel.

A recent report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the global voice of the cruise community, reveals that cruise holidays remain one of the fastestgrowing and most resilient sectors in tourism, with over 40 million passengers expected to set sail by 2027.

the travel sector, they also benefit from an impressive repeat booking rate of approximately 82%. To support this, our Cruise Division offers expert training and a wealth of opportunities for consultants, including Seminar at Sea cruises, ship tours when vessels are in port and access to discounted cruises with key suppliers.

One of the fastestgrowing segments within the cruise industry is multigenerational family cruising.

The future looks bright but travel agents must do their homework

A particularly encouraging trend is that more than 73% of cruise travellers report that travel advisors have a meaningful influence on their decision to book a cruise. This underscores the importance of expert guidance in navigating the often complex process of cruise planning. Even for clients who know the ship they want to cruise on, key decisions such as selecting the right itinerary, cabin, travel dates, and coordinating flights that align with the ship’s departure are critical to ensuring a seamless experience.

For agents who specialise in this niche market, the rewards are substantial — along with some of the highest commissions in

In 2025, agents with their fingers on the pulse will be promoting the new 6,774 passenger mega ship, MSC World America with its onboard aquapark, high ropes course and Cliffhanger, the only thrilling swing ride that extends over the ship’s edge and dangles passengers above the sea.

Other cruise lines catering for this diverse market include Norwegian Cruise Line with its ship Aqua debuting the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, while Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas will offer a waterpark, ropes course and skywalk.

For those that wish to escape kids, Virgin Voyages’ new ship, Brilliant Lady, offers the perfect option and will sail the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska, with Saga continuing to cater for the older market. P&O’s

Take 3… NEW SHIPS

Ship: Star Princess

Debuting in October 2025, this ship is similar to sister Sun Princess, featuring an exclusive suite-only complex and a dedicated family entertainment zone. New additions include pickleball and basketball courts, along with a jogging track. Guests will enjoy a choice of 29 dining options and world-class entertainment, including evening performances of Cirque Éloize in a stunning glass-enclosed piazza.

Ship: Brilliant Lady

Virgin Voyages’ will add a fourth ship to its fleet in 2025 – a vessel that’s designed to navigate new landscapes, like the glaciers of Alaska and the vibrant waters of the Panama Canal. Alongside its infamous red balcony hammocks, there will be more than 20 eateries plus the usual (or very unusual) pop-up circus performances, live music and extensive fitness facilities. virginvoyages.com

Ship: Oceania Allura

Due to launch mid 2025, this luxury liner boasts two crew members for every three passengers meaning top notch service for its 1,200-passengers. The brand has a reputation for its gourmet cuisine and this ship will be no different with five specialty dining venues and an expansive Culinary Center with Chef’s Studio. oceaniacruises.com

Star Princess

Brilliant Lady

Oceania Allura

Why book with Classic Collection

• Incredible product range

• Personalised service

• Tailormade itineraries

• Classic Commitment for peace of mind

• Fly from a choice of over 30 UK airports

• Over 2000 hotels to choose from

• Large portfolio of boutique properties

• 100% financial protection

• Knowledgeable reps in resort

• Luggage and private resort transfers included as standard

Book with your local Not Just Travel Consultant

Expertise, service and perfectly personalised holidays

Book with confidence

ships Aurora and Arcadia are now reserved exclusively for adult guests with numerous departures from Southampton.

No-fly cruises are gaining momentum as travellers seek more sustainable and convenient ways to explore the world. Trending itineraries for 2025 include polar expeditions to the Antarctic and Arctic, as well as voyages to Iceland and Greenland, where travellers can witness breathtaking landscapes of towering peaks and massive icebergs, alongside natural wonders like the midnight sun and the Northern Lights.

Cruise experts also note a rising demandfor Japan, while the Caribbean remains the top choice for cruisers and continues to be a best-seller.

With an expanding array of new ships and itineraries, it’s no surprise that the average age of cruise passengers has dropped by over 10 years since 2019 — making now an ideal time for travel consultants to specialise in the lucrative cruise sector and secure loyalty with new clients who will be come regular repeat cruise goers in the years to come.

NJT’s cruise division helps homeworking consultants become experts in selling cruise holidays

Ask any industry expert which niche travel product brings in big revenue and commission and they’ll probably say “cruise”.

No wonder then that co-founders Paul Harrison and Steve Witt have been quick to launch a cruise division, employ experts and put training in place to ensure homeworking agents can reach their full potential.

New to cruise

“We’ve sold millions of pounds worth of cruises, but we’re aware that a large number of our consultants are new to travel and have never been on a cruise and therefore shy away from selling the lucrative product,” says Harrison.

“We are absolutely committed to giving our agents the chance to capture a slice of this profitable

market. To help accelerate learning and sales, we worked closely with leading experts in the cruise industry to launch a cruise division in September 2022, with dedicated cruise experts at the helm,” he adds.

Not only can NJT consultants call on them for their expert knowledge, but they can also opt-in to a 12-month intensive Cruise Mastery Programme.

“In just 12 months agents who know nothing about the sector can become a ‘master of cruise’ and reap the benefits if they put in the time and effort to research and learn,” says Harrison.

Cruise training

Most agents who sign up to the Cruise Division say the major benefit is having the support of NJT’s specialist cruise business development managers who have years of experience in the sector.

Seminar at Sea

Says Harrison: “But the biggest USP is that they get invited to a Seminar at Sea, a week-long cruise with onboard seminars by cruise experts and the chance to network and have fun with other consultants. We’ve hosted four so far with partners NCL, Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises.

“We host online seminars and training enabling consultants to better sell and book cruise holidays, plus exclusive NJT ship tours so they can keep their fingers on the pulse and choose the right cruise for every one of their customers.”

“More knowledge has certainly helped to build confidence and sales. Many agents’ cruise bookings skyrocket shortly after, like Ami Wood who planned a £47k cruise just one week after a Seminar at Sea.”

Sarah Jane Walker SALES DIRECTOR, VIRGIN VOYAGES

“As a platinum partner with Not Just Travel, we are delighted with how we are ‘raising sales’ together. Hosting NJT’s Seminar at Sea was a great opportunity to accelerate the partnership and drive growth. We love the enthusiasm and support for our Seacademy training programme with Gold Tier members booking 15 times more cruise – we recommend those wanting to sell more to get involved and check out our third ship, Resilient Lady.”

Vickie Towey

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER NORTH WEST, MSC

“We have a great partnership with Not Just Travel and work closely with their consultants offering great value holidays and support. Recently we ran an exclusive NJT offer – a great USP for NJT consultants resulting in an amazing booking performance. It is so exciting that NJT is continuing to invest in cruise through its new cruise division and is helping their passionate consultants grow their businesses and become experts in selling cruise holidays. With new ships on the horizon and further investment into departures from the UK, now is a great time to sell MSC Cruises.”

Andrew Jeans SALES DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, PRINCESS CRUISES

“We have a incredible partnership with Not Just Travel and recently took over 90 agents on a cruise on Sky Princess. We have seen sales grow substantially and continue to offer support and training to help consultants increase cruise sales and make the most of this fast-growth lucrative sector.”

MSC Cruises

Virgin Voyages

Princess Cruises

Get set for ‘peaks’

Why January is a great month for agents to boost bookings and commission

The start of the year has always been a busy time in the travel industry, with tour operators launching campaigns and special offers to compete with the January high-street sales and encourage travellers to book their holidays early.

The upward trajectory in bookings and enquiries led the industry to nickname the January-to-March season ‘peaks’ and it’s a time when some agents make their best sales and highest commission.

“Franchisees typically sell four times more holidays in the early months compared to the rest of the year,” says co-founder Steve Witt, adding that “as the rest of the year is already very busy, you can imagine what January to March looks like!”

Some franchisees say that the best time to train and launch a homeworking travel business is in November/December in time for the January madness. However, since the

pandemic, many are now saying that anytime is a good time since the upturn in sales has continued throughout the year.

One thing is for certain: the ‘peaks’ season represents an opportunity for savvy agents to promote the best deals to existing customers and to reach out and attract new clients, whether that’s in person, or on social media, or via the new Not Just Travel WOW deals app.

“I started in January 2022 when peaks gave me a huge kickstart to my travel business”

Ami Wood TRAVEL CONSULTANT

Who will buy… from you?

Worried about how you will find customers? There are plenty of innovative ways to attract new business

So you’ve aced your training, your website is live and you have access to hundreds of holidays and deals – but how do you find customers to buy them?

Around 40 million people take 93 million foreign holidays every year from the UK, so there really isn’t a shortage of people who want to get away.

“Talk to everyone you know and have known,” says Natalie Singleton, NJT business development manager. “Friends and family often kickstart new businesses and will often become repeat customers, while community is powerful too.

“Picture your banner over the pub quiz, coffee morning or local newsagent. You could sponsor a football team or drive around with a 24/7 advert on your own car – all encouraging clicks to your social media,” adds Singleton.

Franchisee Julie Moss has found numerous clients through an arrangement with a local cafe owner to run a holiday clinic once a week, while other NJT agents have taken stalls at local markets and wedding exhibitions around the UK. Others report huge bookings through local gyms, golf and football clubs.

Relationships with local businesses are key to NJT’s Partners in Travel Scheme which has led to rapid expansion for some agents. Consultants partner with a sports club or local business and ask them to promote them to their network. If anyone books a holiday, the

Palvi Harvey

Theresa Kelly

Julie Moss

partner earns a share of the commission with some donating the money to a charity.

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram play a huge part in finding new customers too – whether you’re sharing links or paying for advertisements. “Start weekly live social media events,” advises Singleton. “From there, you can become the go-to travel expert writing guest blogs, chatting on travel podcasts or sharing tips on your own YouTube channel.

“We helped two agents set up a Facebook live broadcast about MSC Cruises. In just 10 minutes they had three bookings and made over £1,000 in profit,” she adds.

So where will your customers come from? Put these plans into action, boost your profile and grow your online presence, and you’ll soon discover that the simple answer is... absolutely everywhere.

“We helped two agents set up a Facebook live broadcast about MSC Cruises. In 10 minutes they had received three bookings and made over £1,000 in profit”

Natalie Singleton

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Scott and Lynne Friery

Is it lucrative?

Can you earn a living as a homeworking travel agent?

Find out more about agent commissions and our most successful consultants including Ami Wood who sold £100,000 worth of holidays in her first month

Not surprisingly, most entrepreneurs thinking of starting a homeworking travel agency will want to know the potential income they can generate and the best way to maximise profit.

As an agent, you will always earn commission – a percentage of the overall cost – on every type of travel that you sell, whether that’s a flight, hotel or cruise, typically after the trip has taken place. On average, that figure will be around 10-15% of the overall booking value.

However, commission fees can differ based on the supplier and the product. The commission that one tour operator offers can be very different from another, and the commission on a flight, compared to a cruise or safari trip, will also vary hugely.

The disparity makes the question “How much will I earn?” difficult to answer. It will depend on what type of bookings you make, which suppliers you use, how many sales you secure and which franchise package you buy (every travel franchise operates on a commission-sharing basis).

Proof that hard work pays

As the panel (right) shows, cruising and adventure can provide some of the highest commissions, but adding tours, insurance and car hire can also bump up that figure. Classic Collection marketing manager Manisha Blair says: “Multi-centre holidays, once-in-alife-time private tours and experiences, and chartering private yachts or jets, might take a lot of work but the rewards, in terms of commission of these high-value bookings, is hard to beat.”

Our travel consultants have proved that it is possible, with our help, to generate £35,000 a year while others earn far more. Travel consultant Ami Wood sold £100,000 worth of holidays in her first month, while Reshma Aggarwal sold £1.2m in just 18 months (p55). While commission is key, some travel providers offer other incentives, for example £150 bonus for booking a particular cruise in a specific month or vouchers for lifestyle

…the average commission per booking compared to just £274 in 2019

products, high-street stores and dining experiences. Others enable agents to build points and redeem them for exotic trips ranging from a two-night luxury UK hotel break to a thrilling safari in Africa. The rewards are yours for the taking.

Travel experiences shaped around you

Asia | Africa | Americas | Australasia

Middle East | Arctic | Antarctica | Europe

Book

with your local Not Just Travel Consultant

Climb to success

Can you reach the top of the ladder and become one of our high achievers? If so, how long will it take you?

Not Just Travel trains, supports and rewards its homeworking travel consultants, encouraging everyone to plan a career pathway to success. ‘Pins’ are awarded to anyone who has achieved key milestones within the operation of their business with one agent achieving Platinum level in just one month. Diamond

Double Diamond

total commission

total commission £500,000

total commission

total commission

total commission

total commission

total commission

total commission

total commission + 10 plus bookings

total commission

“My proudest moment so far is, without a doubt, getting the ‘Fastest to Platinum Award’ from Not Just Travel”

Ami Wood

TRAVEL CONSULTANT

Diamond agents

Our highest achieving agents are awarded Diamond status when they make £500,000 commission. Double diamond Mark and Isobel McCardie share their story Did you ever think you’d achieve £10 million in holiday bookings?

You have 1,800 clients but how did you find your clients early on?

repeat and referral business keeps coming in rather than clients that aren’t necessarily the right fit for you.

The big turning point for us was quite early on at the Millionaires Retreat where the main takeaway for us was to get on the phone to potential clients and not quote without a conversation. Because Q

It’s a bit surreal to be honest because you think back to the first training and remember seeing these people that had done amazing sales and now that’s us. We’re very proud of what we’ve done, but it’s been extremely hard work. A lot of people ask: “What’s the secret?” And the answer is: Not much sleep! But it’s been a good journey so far.

In the beginning we went down the friends and family route and it started to build momentum. You’re not going to go from zero to 500 customers overnight, but if you have the right kind of practice and procedures in place, it grows over time. There’s no quick fix, but it’s important to gain good quality customers so that the

In what ways did Not Just Travel (NJT) help you along the way?

firstly it builds rapport and secondly you can weed out if somebody’s just very price focused and they’re simply asking 10 different people to find the cheapest quote. From that point on, it’s then about really servicing and nurturing clients.

Any stand-out memories and bookings?

I had a flight-only enquiry once. It was business class tickets to America for a whisky company and turned out to be just under a hundred grand. If we could have four or five of them a year, we’d be quite happy. We just booked it via Gold Medal and that was it. Very, very easy to organise! We’ve won various initiatives like the loan of a free car and I also remember winning the Money-Back Challenge - we were in Sandals in the Caribbean when we won so that was rather nice!

And do you specialise in an area and why?

How have you managed to scale up the business?

Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Our audience is very family focused. It sounds a bit cheesy, but we get lots of emails and photos of families on holiday having a fantastic time. There’s not many jobs where you get the satisfaction of creating something for a family that really makes them happy and they’ve saved up for a year to make it happen.

There’s now four of us working in the business: Isobel and I, plus a concierge manager and a Florida expert. The five-year plan is to continue to grow, take on some more agents and build luxury and cruise.

Do you travel abroad much?

One of the main reasons for setting up the business and starting it was to travel. It’s effectively your research: the more places you go and the more things you experience, the easier it is to sell. All travel is basically research if you’ve got your own travel business.

Are you impressed with the growth of Not Just Travel?

Absolutely. Everything’s just becoming more elevated. We had a business development manager when we started, but now the calibre is so much higher and everything like the marketing materials are more polished. NJT has some great people now in key positions so it can only really go from strength to strength.

So do you see a future for travel agents and is AI a future challenge?

£100,000... our easiest big booking for a group flying to the USA

So is it really a flexible career?

It’s hard work, but you can work from wherever you want. We work from the Canary Islands in winter.

Do you ever book holidays while abroad?

Yes. If we are on a trip we do some work but get the balance right - there’s no point in going somewhere and being stuck in a hotel room for a week.

No, because this job is all about personal service. AI can only do so much. It can help make you be more efficient and effective in terms of marketing and admin tasks, but at the end of the day, people still want to buy from people not machines, and I honestly don’t think that will change.

So do you think people new to travel can make good consultants?

Absolutely. But you have to be a people person - it’s all about communication - and obviously have a passion for travel. But in terms of the travel knowledge, you’ll just build that up over time.

Rising

stars

Most start-ups take years to gain momentum. Meet three new recruits whose rise has been nothing short of meteoric

Meet Reshma Aggarwal

Shortlisted for an industry award, this mum of three young boys, joined The Travel Franchise during the pandemic, yet still sold £1.2m of holidays in just 18 months

Some people say there is never the right time to launch a new business, you just have to take the plunge. But imagine starting a travel consultancy in 2020 – the year that Covid grounded flights and shut the country down.

“Launching a business during the pandemic was a double-edged sword,” says Reshma Aggarwal (left). “On one hand no one was travelling, but on the other, it showed people the value of a travel agent on a daily basis.”

Building trust

For the next year Reshma navigated her way through complex border entry and vaccination requirements, which often change at a moment’s notice. “Communicating and reassuring customers through such an uncertain time helped me gain my clients’ trust and enabled me to grow very quickly through

referrals. They have seen the value of the service I’ve given and I’ve got to know many of them extremely well.”

Bookings on the go

As a mum of three boys under the age of eight, Reshma doesn’t have a lot of spare time on her hands. But whether she’s on the school run or on a family holiday, she has her phone at the ready in case a customer has a problem or a new client wants to make a booking.

That mindset, and hard work, enabled Reshma to win the Money-Back Challenge in six months. She’s also been shortlisted for TTG’s New Luxury Travel Designer award.

“When I first inquired, I was nervous, as I loved travel but had no travel industry experience. I also thought the job might be about sales but I soon learnt that success is about listening and developing relationships with your clients and suppliers.

“Not only do I love travel, but I am organised, methodical and I really enjoy networking and creating amazing experiences for people beyond flights and hotels. It doesn’t matter if the holiday is worth £5,000 or £50,000, I take pride in every trip I tailormake.”

“It’s changed my life. I juggle work around my three young boys but I’m also making friends while booking incredible holidays”

Reshma TRAVEL CONSULTANT

Meet Becky Westaway

Switched careers and sold a £80k holiday in four months

Becky was a PR guru for 16 years, but after the Covid pandemic she decided she wanted to create a different life: to spend more time with her two children and run a business of her own.

Like the majority of our franchisees, Becky had never worked in the industry before, but she recognised she had many crossover skills.

“I love planning holidays and I realised that the things I enjoy about my old job are really transferable: problem solving, meeting new people, networking and socialising. Plus, I knew I had a good number of contacts so I could see how I could make business work.”

Becky trained with NJT online in December 2021 and took her first booking just days after training by simply telling friends and family to spread the word about her new business.

Within four weeks she’d

arranged five or six holidays and within four months a holiday to Mauritius which was over £80k - a lead that came from her gym.

With hard work she achieved our Money-Back Challenge (see p58) in just seven months, which means she got her business for free.

“It’s changed my life for the better. I really love what I do. I’m developing a business for myself that’s really exciting.”

Becky TRAVEL CONSULTANT

Becky then enjoyed the many travel perks that come

with the job: she went on our company cruise onboard NCL’s Norwegian Prima, attended NJT’s International Mastery retreat in Paphos, Cyprus, and joined our Elite Experience in Mauritius.

Now Becky’s sold over £1 million-worth of holidays, has opened an office, employed another member of staff and launched a travel podcast!

“Year one was about learning how everything worked, building customers and a business that was reputable. Year two was all about experience - I did lots of trips. Now, in year three I can be more strategic and concentrate on PR and marketing.”

So is Becky glad she made the move from PR to travel?

“It’s definitely changed my life for the better. I love what I do. It’s rewarding because I’m developing a business for myself and there’s no ceiling to my ambition. It’s a powerful feeling.”

Having dedicated 20 years of her life working for family businesses, Ami Wood thought that becoming a travel agent would be a fun part-time hobby that could give her some extra income.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d be on track to hit £1.5m in sales within 18 months and shortlisted for New Agent of the Year at a prestigious travel industry ceremony.

“It’s changed my life completely. It’s a job I love and I’m getting paid to do it.”

Company growth

When Ami first researched Not Just Travel, she admits she had never heard of the brand before. “But when I attended a conference I was gob smacked at the scale of its operations.

“Since I joined in January 2022, it’s clear that it’s going places fast. I’m so happy that

Meet Ami Wood

Mum’s part-time hobby grew into full-time award-winning travel agency with £1.5m in holiday sales in 18 months

I signed up. I’ve experienced and grown so much.”

In her first 10 months, Ami travelled abroad with NJT on a ski trip to Colorado, a golf trip to Mauritius, a luxury cruise on NCL and explored Turkey with a trade partner.

Expert training

But was it plain sailing from the start? “The training was intense – there’s a lot to take in, but in the travel industry you never stop learning, even if you’ve been a consultant for 30 years. It’s exciting.”

So, it’s good to know that help is always at hand: “It doesn’t matter what time or day it is, NJT’s business development managers are there every step of the way.”

Ami also finds Facebook groups useful for fact finding, along with NJT’s key trade partners. “I’ve recently closed a £40,000 booking to New Zealand for a cricket tour – a country and sport I knew

nothing about, but the supplier has been invaluable, even offering to speak directly to the client.”

Finding customers

So how has she managed to find so many customers? “Friends and family are really supportive and social media is great, but the biggest way to get business is word-ofmouth. Once somebody’s booked a holiday with me, they are really happy with the service and then pass on my details to their friends.”

Ami is also opening a stall at a local market twice a week and getting her logo put on her car. “It’s another way of getting my name out there,” says Ami, who admits she often works evenings or weekends, but manages to fit everything around her family.

“It just means they have to help with the housework a bit more – what’s not to like about that?”

How to get your travel franchise for free!

No gimmicks or crazy rules. Simply sell enough holidays in an agreed time and your business start-up costs are refunded. But how hard is it to succeed and could you do it too?

In July 2022, mum of two, Becky Westaway won our unique Money-Back Challenge in just seven months. By simply selling enough holidays in an agreed time, her entire business start-up costs were refunded.

“I could not believe it when The Travel Franchise refunded me £14,995,” says Becky. “If I knew I could have bought a franchise for free – and have so much fun – I’d have joined years ago.”

Becky’s not the only one. “Since the challenge was launched, we’ve refunded dozens and dozens of business owners,” says Not Just Travel co-founder Steve Witt. “In 2020, we postponed it as too many people were achieving it, but fear not, it’s back, better than ever.”

when borders were closed and flights were grounded, according to Witt.

But what’s even more impressive is that almost all of them have never worked in travel before, relying on the expert training, support and mentorship provided by the NJT team.

Make the sales and you could win your entire franchise fee back

“While we love it when people beat the MoneyBack Challenge, it’s not easy – the clue is in the name. It is a challenge. Targets require hard work and dedication, but if you become successful we do too,” says Witt. “Your franchise fee pays for your business infrastructure, expert training, business development managers and technology.

And you might be the next person to achieve it.

While many of the travel consultants who have won the challenge work full time, others have only worked part time and a handful succeeded against the odds, joining during the pandemic

“But if you make enough sales you’ve generated profits that justify us returning that huge investment.”

If you want to enter the Money-Back Challenge, join The Travel Franchise’s most popular package, as an Elite. Start-up fees are £14,995 (plus VAT), but like Becky… it could cost you nothing!

Meet some of the ChallengeMoney-Backwinners

Get your business for free?

These franchisees did!

Amy beat the Challenge despite only working part time. She used her Elite £14,995 refund to quit her admin job and become a travel consultant full time. Amy Howerd

“Initially I didn’t give much thought to the Challenge as I didn’t want to put pressure on myself. After 2 to 3 months I could see I was doing really well. In 2023 I’d like to sell £1 million in holidays – and it’s not unrealistic.”

Cath Bracegirdle

Mum Cath hated working in finance so she took out a loan to invest in a travel franchise and won our Challenge. She paid off her loan with the refund.

“It was hard work, but achievable. I kept track of my sales on post-it notes pinned by my computer to incentivise myself and focus. I really feel like I’m earning money but not ‘working’. I love it. I wish I’d done it earlier.”

“I’m often asked: Do people actually win the Money-Back Challenge? To put it in perspective, in the first five weeks of 2023 we had one person a week winning it and many more on the brink!”

Steve Witt CO-FOUNDER

Alison Hunter-Gray

When mum-of-three Alison joined us she lacked confidence, but within 12 months she’d proved she was a savvy and successful business woman.

“When I first signed up, I honestly thought ‘well that’s it, I’ll never see that money again’. I just never thought the Money-Back Challenge would be achievable for someone like me. I honestly can’t believe I’ve done it.”

Natasha and James Oliphant

This husband and wife team joined in July 2021 and beat the Challenge in just seven months, despite only working part time.

“Achieving the Money-Back Challenge was indeed a challenge but take baby steps and communicate with your business development managers and you’ll see there is a whole system of support, so be sure to use it.”

It’s too good to be true...or is it?

How the promise of a free franchise made Ben sign up in 2019 and build his business into an outstanding success, despite a global pandemic

Is the Money-Back Challenge the reason you joined TTF?

Absolutely. The chance to build my very own travel business for free won me over from the start. It was clear that there wasn’t just one person a year winning the challenge – there were numerous pictures of consultants being presented with their big cheque and getting their business for free!

Did you research and compare any other travel franchises?

Yes, I compared the top five travel franchises. I researched their reputation, awards won, company values, innovation, vision and, of course, the franchise costs and what my money would buy me. It was clear that The Travel Franchise/Not Just Travel were leaders in the market, with a real passion for working with entrepreneurs new to the industry to achieve great things. There was a personal quality, too, not just a large corporate with no face.

Ben Casey Q Q Q Q Q

Did you think the founders were slightly crazy to offer the Money-Back Challenge?

At first, yes. I thought it was too good to be true. No other franchise offered it and I could see lots

of agents winning. However, I now realise the Challenge symbolises what they stand for. For the company to succeed, they need you to succeed. They give you all the tools, training, support, coaching and encouragement to build a thriving business with your name on it. You just have to work hard and believe in yourself.

Did it take you long to decide what you would do with the £14,995 refund?

As soon as I joined I started thinking about treating myself to an incredible holiday as a reward for all my hard work, or investing it back into the business. I settled on a bit of both.

Honestly, in your opinion, How hard is the Money-Back Challenge to achieve?

The Travel Franchise/Not Just Travel gave me all the support, encouragement and guidance I needed to make a success of my new travel business, having never worked in travel before. They gave me a structure and well-trodden path to follow, which gave me the focus I needed to win every penny of my money back. If you follow that, you will be in a very good position and you too could be a winner.

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How we help you

Every agent has access to expert training, state-of-the-art bookings systems, ongoing support and trips abroad

Whether you’re dipping your toe in the water or diving in at the deep end –relax! You’re part of a successful travel company that has a proven track record. Starting on your own can be stressful, which is why The Travel Franchise offers plenty of support. After induction training, you’ll have your own business development manager on the end of the phone – most new recruits call them twice a day for the first month and they answer in under a minute!

Meanwhile, your network of office support

staff is busy preparing your social media posts, fine-tuning your website or app, and making key industry partnerships to provide the best deals and keep you at the top of your game. You’ll also get opportunities for ongoing training, online and in person, plus the chance to network at conferences and overseas events meeting other passionate and ambitious new agents as well as tour operators.

We can’t wait to show you how friends, advisors and genuine team spirit can help you grow your business fast.

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Love the sea? Immerse yourself in an unforgettable experience on MSC Virtuosa

At MSC Cruises, our love for the sea goes back many generations. And we are eager to pass this passion on to future generations. That’s why we are dedicated to making each of our cruises a voyage of discovery and unforgettable emotions for every guest. We offer an enriching, immersive and safe cruise experience, where you can enjoy international dining, world-class entertainment, award-winning family programmes and the latest user-friendly technology on board.

Experience MSC Virtuosa sailing from Southampton in 2023 with an unrivalled choice for the whole family.

Agent training

Our small group and dynamic, one-to-one training is what sets us apart from other franchises in the travel industry

As most of our new recruits have never worked in the travel industry before, we take our training to another level, employing experts to deliver the best tuition.

All the basic essentials are taught on a five-day, live, online training course. You’ll learn about the travel industry, how to make bookings, plus how to use the special travel agent software so you can start selling holidays right away. You’ll also get advice on business building, finding customers and getting started fast as a travel entrepreneur.

Six week learn while you earn

Successfully completing your five-day induction enables you to soft launch your company and begin booking holidays. However, you can’t be expected to know or remember everything in such a short time frame. That’s why you’ll enter our pioneering Academy training programme where you’ll discover a multitude of tools to enable you to ‘learn while you earn’.

Exclusive to NJT, our best-in-the-business bespoke Academy training offers a blend of self-paced learning, personalised one-to-one

sessions and structured webinars, providing flexibility that fits your schedule.

You’ll have access to weekly webinars and online briefings from a key supplier or tourist board informing you about new destinations or online booking tools.

Plus you’ll have a personal travel coach or business development manager (BDM) who can help give advice and support when you need it.

Agents on our Elite package can also take advantage of our Elite training days online and around the UK where guest speakers provide valuable advice on topics such as social media, marketing, presentation skills or networking, with opportunities to ask any questions.

“Having never worked in the travel industry before, there’s a lot to learn but everything presented was detailed, relevant, professional and fun!”

Amy Howerd TRAVEL CONSULTANT

Pioneering agent tools and technology

Everything you need to open a successful travel agency is providing, including booking and business software, dynamic quotation templates and partner app and website

Having holidays to sell is no good without the platforms that enable you to plan and book them. That’s why we give you all the tools and technology you need to set up as a travel consultant.

We provide you with a website that you can customise to promote yourself and your new travel business. There’s nothing you need to maintain and no serious technology know-how required - honest!

Agent booking software

Want access to the industry’s leading booking management tool? You’ve got it! Following training you’ll get a personal login to iSell, an award-winning platform that revolutionises customer management, offering seamless functionalities such

as processing payments, issuing client paperwork such as ATOL certificates and payment receipts and even booking products like travel insurance and cruise holidays.

Business management tool

We’ve poured millions of pounds into our cutting-edge software, Vision, designed to empower you in running your business. With Vision at your fingertips, you can focus on nurturing meaningful connections with your clients while we handle the rest.

This tool, unique to Not Just Travel, serves as your personal assistant, effortlessly managing customer details and bookings and guiding you through your daily tasks with convenient prompts and reminders, ensuring nothing slips through the net. As you start making

Cruise website

Our new cruise website notjustcruise.co.uk transforms the search and booking process for our agents.

The tool collates over 40,000 itineraries from multiple suppliers on one single site and promotes incredible deals from our key trade partners (KTPs) too.

Consultants who want to become experts in cruise and make the most of lucrative commissions can also join our Cruise Mastery Course and Seminar at Sea, often onboard new cruise ships.

bookings, you’ll marvel at how seamlessly it tracks your commissions, trips and every facet of your business activities.

Client quotation tool boosts conversion rate

In 2024 we spent another half a million pounds in providing technology to help our consultants boost conversion rates by providing them with the industry’s leading state-of-the art quotation tool.

The new TProfile-powered tool enables consultants to design visually stunning templated quotes - complete with text, images, videos and prices - effortlessly in minutes!

It means they can now personalise professional looking quotes and send them

to clients via email, whatsapp or text and then phone them to walk them through the beautifully presented tour or itinerary. What’s even cooler is that the quotes can be updated following amendments seamlessly.

Partners in Travel (PIT)

Want to support a charity, the local community and never worry how to find your next customer? That’s exactly what our pioneering Partner in Travel (PIT) initiative does for consultants - and it now comes with a new customisable app and website!

Our PIT scheme enables agents to partner with any business, charity, sports club or individual and they get a percentage of the commission when a referral results in a booking. It’s genius!

Agent resource centre

How do you get answers to all your questions? We give you 20 years of business knowledge at your fingertips – and it’s 100% unique to Not Just Travel.

A treasure trove of expertise, ‘The Hub’ is the ultimate resource centre for agents, overflowing with information covering a range of topics from our esteemed suppliers to comprehensive training materials, operational forms and the latest company news.

Continuously updated, The Hub will quickly become your go-to companion.

WOW TRAVEL deals app boosts sales

Our groundbreaking new app delivers new business without you having to even lift a finger

In August 2023, Not Just Travel pioneered yet another trailblazing tool to help consultants engage with their customers – and it’s already earning them thousands of pounds in commission without any work!

Available on both Apple and Android OS, the new WOW TRAVEL deals app features numerous tempting travel offers from our key trade partners, many of which are speciallynegotiated or exclusive deals.

Agents simply WhatsApp or email their clients asking them to download the app from the app store and enter their unique agent code when they sign in and register.

Customers can then browse the offers and, if they are interested, their enquiry or online booking will be credited to the agent whose unique code was entered when they downloaded the app.

The result? Agents are now getting commission or being contacted by their clients without even sending an email or picking up the phone.

“This is a conversation starting scroll stopper,” says co-founder Paul Harrison. “The WOW app is designed to help consultants interact with

ATSALES ATOUCHTHEOF BUTTON

their customers in a whole new way and remind them that agents don’t just offer incredible personal service, they also have incredible offers at their fingertips.

“Every two days, customers’ phones will alert them to yet another special, often specially-negotiated holiday offer from our Key Trade Partners that will make them go WOW – hence the name of the app. And who doesn’t pick up their phone when it pings you with great deals?

“Incredible offers will constantly keep our consultants front of mind. All enquiries and transactions are linked to the individual consultants. It is yet another profitable point of difference that sets us apart and we are super-proud of it.”

Endless reach

Harrison forecasts the app will be used by over 250,000 users within 12 months, many of them converting from warm leads into bookings.

“This exciting, easy-to-use app will transform our consultants’ businesses as it is yet another way to generate an endless flow of leads, as well as acting as a conversation starter with new customers. The potential reach is endless. We’ve negotiated incredible deals, exclusively with our Platinum trade

partners who are impressed by the response.”

The aim is for every offer to have something ‘WOW’ about it – that could be a fantastic price, an unmissable room upgrade, an incredible free perk or perhaps the holiday has the WOW-factor.

Point of difference

WOW is yet another demonstration of how The Travel Franchise goes one step further to help your business succeed. It’s one more point of difference between us and the other travel franchises out there.

“We always want to stay one step ahead of the competition. We want to make the lives of our franchisees easier and the WOW app is doing just that, with many agents already reporting that their clients love it,” adds Paul.

NJT consultants Rachael and Colman Coyne (pictured above), say: “We’ve been eagerly anticipating the launch of this travel app. It creates a simplified and efficient channel of communication with our current customers, plus potentially a raft of brand new ones. We will always chat to our customers but with an ever-increasing number of holiday bookings being made on phones, to be at the heart of where the buying power lies is a significant shift in our business.”

Meet NJT’s business development managers

Everyone needs a guardian angel and at Not Just Travel, they come in the form of a business development manager who will help, mentor and advise whenever an agent needs them

Every person who joins Not Just Travel as a travel consultant is given a personal business development manager (BDM) who will be introduced when they complete their induction training.

That BDM will be on hand whenever they are needed to help with urgent questions, specific booking queries and to provide tips, tricks and motivation (if required).

Agents can call them any time in working hours – we cover the cost.

If you’ve never worked in travel before, then this resource is almost priceless, particularly in your first month.

“When you complete training, I am here to help and guide you on the beginning of your journey,” says BDM Paula Barker. “You may need direction on converting a booking, which supplier to use or how to get more customers. No matter how big or small your query, I’m here to help grow your confidence and business.”

Don’t worry that a BDM will call you to check that you’re working. A BDM is there to help, not to pester. Think of them as a constant resource who is there for you, but doesn’t control you or govern the way you run your travel business. After all, you’re the boss.

How a BDM can help your business grow:

1

Assists you in mapping out your business objectives, goals and milestones

2 Helps you find new customers by establishing an effective marketing mix

3 Turns inquiries into bookings and lifetime customers with a robust sales process

4 Builds effective customer retention and referral strategy

Join the Cruise Division and not only do you get a personal BDM but you also have support and training from specialist cruise BDMs too

Debra Leavy

Danielle Dry

Emma Holliday

Donna Smethurst

Catherine Haynes

Paula Barker

Florence Bryce

Duncan Croucher

Ben Rood

Toni Linney

Natalie Singleton

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How a BDM can grow your business

Business development manager, Natalie Singleton, on how she helps consultants build a successful travel agency

Tell us your background and job role?

Like all BDMs, I have extensive travel trade experience –over 24 years working for Going Places, Thomas Cook & Destinology Luxury Travel. My job is to help franchisees’ businesses grow. I get to know every owner and love to see them earn great money and explore the world.

inspiration to help them go out and promote their business to attract customers. As a BDM we are about mentoring, coaching and growing business, not so much about uploading a booking, although we do, of course, lend a helping hand.

Q Q Q Q

How does a BDM help new recruits early on?

We are there to help everyone fresh off training. We give them a four-week kickstart programme with ideas and

How does that relationship evolve?

As a consultant’s business grows and they become more experienced, they progress through NJT’s career pathway or ‘pin’ levels, changing BDMs as they climb up the ladder. Although training and mentorship continues, the focus changes slightly, for example, to looking after repeat customers and closing complex, high-ticket sales.

How do you help with business plans?

It depends on a franchisee’s lifestyle, as the plan has to work around each individual person. For some consultants, running a travel consultancy

is a full-time job, for others they are juggling the business alongside another career. We are careful to set achievable goals. We also ensure they respond to trends in the industry and get more customers using social media and marketing. Each consultant personalises the way they get more customers – we give them ideas, they choose which suits them.

“I wanted to have my own travel business but didn’t have a travel background. Having a BDM has enabled me to stay accountable and to focus on my short and long-term goals. I can also get advice on how to work through the little hurdles and keep motivated in order to increase sales.”

Sarah Heduan TRAVEL CONSULTANT

Why book with Classic Collection

• Incredible product range

• Personalised service

• Tailormade itineraries

• Classic Commitment for peace of mind

• Fly from a choice of over 30 UK airports

• Over 2000 hotels to choose from

• Large portfolio of boutique properties

• 100% financial protection

• Knowledgeable reps in resort

• Luggage and private resort transfers included as standard

Book with your local Not Just Travel Consultant

Expertise, service and perfectly personalised holidays

Book with confidence

Overseas trips and educationals

Our consultants don’t just book dream holidays, they get to experience them too. Every year NJT organises numerous trips designed to showcase a hotel, destination or cruise, giving agents the chance to learn, network and have fun

Millionaire’s Retreat

Not Just Travel’s first Millionaires Retreat took place in 2013 in a luxury villa in Spain where co-founders Paul Harrison and Steve Witt coached some of the earliest franchisees how to become successful homebased travel consultants.

The idea was to give new recruits the chance to learn from our ‘millionaire’ cofounders as well as some amazing travel experts and guest speakers.

To date we have taken over 500 franchisees to some fantastic destinations, and, as there are typically two Millionaire Retreats per year, new franchisees usually get the opportunity to attend within a few months of joining.

The trip gives our co-founders the opportunity to meet new business owners in person and coach them how to build momentum in the first year.

A few hours a day are spent in the classroom while evenings are kept free to enjoy the facilities, the destination and to get to know all the other attendees.

The Millionaire’s Retreat is the first trip available to our Elite Travel consultants and begins the journey of personal and business

development which runs through the spine of our business.

It’s a winning formula that has been known to help some of our franchisees create a travel agency worth over a million pounds and in 2023 it took place at Constantinou Bros Hotels in Paphos, Cyprus.

“Most of our consultants have never worked in travel before and while they learn the basics during induction, we don’t have enough time to teach them how to be an entrepreneur as well,” says Witt.

“On this trip, we typically take up to 100 travel consultants to explore a popular tourist destination, visit a few hotels and learn key skills, such as how to find more customers. We bring along some successful consultants so that they can share their experiences of how they got the t-shirt, and the money too.“

Harrisson says that many agents also sell holidays while they are on the trip because they post inspirational pictures of the destination on social media and they know who to pitch the holiday to on their client list. “Many say that the Millionaires Retreat is worth the franchise fee alone,” he says.

Elite Experience

Co-founder Steve Witt describes how this free trip for Elite franchisees often changes people’s lives and can literally skyrocket a consultant’s business

Q

What is Not Just Travel’s Elite Experience?

It’s where we take up to 25 franchisees on a free, luxury, six-day mentorship retreat, typically to a long-haul destination, and teach them the secrets of becoming a successful travel entrepreneur. The hotel, flights, transfers, excursions, most of the food and training is paid for by us.

Q Q

What do you need to do to be invited on the free trip?

Consultants must be on our Elite (or above) franchise package and have been in the business at least six months and have built a solid foundation, earning decent commission, at least £5,000 pounds but typically more. This will be their second mentorship trip abroad as they would have already experienced our Millionaire’s Retreat, in a short-haul destination, first.

Q

How does it differ from NJT’s Millionaire’s Retreat?

The Millionaire’s Retreat teaches consultants how to be an entrepreneur. This trip coaches agents how to skyrocket their business and take it to a whole new level. It’s a smaller group, so we can do a lot more in small groups or on a one-to-one basis tailoring mentoring to each individual. Consultants get to spend quality time with travel experts and entrepreneurs like me, and co-founder Paul Harrison, who have built very successful businesses. We look at what agents have achieved so far, help establish their goals, sometimes tear up business plans and suggest new ones. We also offer training on specific subjects, such as social media.

Q

Why can’t you make that big difference from the beginning?

Agents need to run their own businesses for a while to see what works and what doesn’t and to know what they want – not all work full time. They decide their hours and targets, we just help them achieve their goals.

What sort of experts coach on the mentorship retreat?

We take other successful travel consultants along with us, the high-achieving ones such as Colman Coyne, because they make it real. Agents like to learn from people who have been there, done it and got the t-shirt. Many consultants who have experienced the trip say they would pay thousands of pounds for the coaching that we give, especially in such incredible locations.

Q Q

Where have you held previous Elite Experiences?

Recent Elite Experiences have taken place in Mexico, Mauritius and Jamaica. We’ve also been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to name a few.

What sort of hotels do you typically stay in?

Really nice ones! We tend to stay at two highend hotels and, while we can’t guarantee every one will be five-star, even the four-star hotels we’ve stayed in have been amazing. We also visit a few other hotels in the area and enjoy some fantastic activities, such as sailing or 4x4 dune bashing in the desert. We get treated like royalty by the hotels and tourist boards while we are there because consultants are the people who bring in the tourists and boost the local economy. Many agents take snapshots and post on social media while they are there resulting in a huge uplift in sales to that particular resort.

Q

So it’s not all work and no play during the trip?

We work hard but we also have a lot of fun too. We eat incredible food and we often get to experience cool things that you wouldn’t normally get to do or see. While we were in Abu Dhabi, for example, we had a tour of the Etihad Innovation Centre, which is where the airline Etihad mocks up its future first-class cabins with butler service and other top notch experiences on board. The entire trip really is a ‘money-can’t-buy’ experience.

All aboard our first Seminar at Sea

Our new cruise division gives agents the chance to become a master of cruise and attend training — not just online but on board new ships such as NCL’s Norwegian Prima

Around 200 delegates attended Not Just Travel’s first Seminar at Sea in September 2022, experiencing a week-long cruise and expert training on Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new ship Norwegian Prima.

“It was a privilege to be on the third ever sailing of the world’s newest cruise ship,” said NJT consultant Karen Sheldon. “This ship really is in a class of its own.”

Sailing from Copenhagen to Amsterdam, the agents were impressed by many elements, from the food to the entertainment. But it was the training that many said was outstanding, with three dedicated business development managers (BDMs) initiating many first-timers into the world of selling cruises.

Other experts, including BBC presenter Zara Janjua, gave tips on social media, while NJT brand champion,

Norwegian Prima

Launched August 2022, this luxury 3,099-passenger ship has an impressive 2:1 guest-to-staff ratio. Expect spacious cabins (some with hot tubs and 24-hour butlers), infinity pools, a Mandara spa, beach club, virtual reality arcade, gaming space, three-level go-kart racetrack and a 10-story free-fall slide. ncl.com

and Olympic medal-winning athlete, Daley Thompson, was on hand for motivational tips.

Co-founders Paul Harrison and Steve Witt were also on board to give entrepreneurs tips, advice and inspiration.

“The Seminar at Sea was a huge success,” says Harrison. “An amazing week packed full of firsts for The Travel Franchise, Not Just Travel, and quite possibly the travel industry as a whole.

“With 18 bars, speciality restaurants, Broadway shows, and some of the nicest cabins you’ll find in any hotel, let alone afloat on a cruise ship, it’s safe to say there was a lot to experience.

“What’s even more exciting is that so many of the franchisees had never set foot on a cruise ship yet have since made some big cruise bookings thanks to the confidence and knowledge they gained from the Seminar at Sea,” says Harrison.

Rocking it with Virgin Voyages

A brand new cruise website unveiled on board Not Just Travel’s second-ever

Seminar at Sea

Over 150 travel consultants and Not Just Travel (NJT) corporate team members attended the company’s second Seminar at Sea in 2023 on board Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady, an adult-only, edgy, contemporary ship, as it sailed the Med.

The week-long cruise, open to any NJT consultant who opts into the Cruise Mastery Programme, included four mornings of intensive coaching, cruise training and personal development with afternoons free to enjoy the ship and ports of call.

For over half of the consultants, this was their first cruise with co-founder Paul Harrison reporting that the trip had been “transformative in their understanding of what cruise offers, and very uniquely, what Virgin Voyages offers”.

Co-founder Steve Witt said: ”Our Seminar at Sea, which is always hosted by one of our incredible key trade cruise partners, is our ultimate investment in people; we pay for our consultants to open their eyes to the endless possibilities within the cruise market. There is simply no better way to learn, than to experience it for yourself, alongside inspirational peers, colleagues and friends.”

The group was accompanied by Olympic medalist Daley Thompson, and NJT brand ambassador TV-star Hayley Sparkes, who coached consultants on their personal branding and social media presence.

Travel consultant Sam Cummings commented: “The training on social media has been really useful for tips on what to do. It’s also interesting listening to people talk about how they do what they do in their business.”

Cummings was also impressed with the new cruise website, which was unveiled onboard. It enables agents to drill down through the thousands of cruise options in one go, with live availability and pricing.

“It’s a game changer,” she said. “To be able to source all that information in one place will save so much time and help us generate even more cruise bookings.”

NJT’s senior cruise business development manager Duncan Croucher said he had worked in cruising for 20 years and had never seen such a clever and innovative website.

“Never before has anyone been able to see nearly all cruises out there in one place. It will cut down hundreds of hours of research and crossreferencing to allow consultants to be as efficient as possible in doing what they do best — selling.”

The trip, of course, also introduced consultants to the unique Virgin concept of

cruising where every guest is treated like a rockstar. NJT consultant Dave Collard, who only joined the business in May, said: “It’s so difficult to sell a cruise without having been on one. This ship is unlike any other ship. The vibe, the tech, the dining and informal feel – there is nothing like this. Virgin has taken the concept of cruising to a whole new level.”

Virgin Voyages sales manager Jack Atherton, who accompanied the group, said: “This cruise fast-tracked sales to a whole new level. Within just a few hours of setting sail, consultants told us that they were blown away by the boutique atmosphere of the ship and they loved its relaxed, luxury feel and personal service.”

Agent sales of Virgin Voyages cruises have skyrocketed since the trip and now NJT are now one of the cruise line’s top performing partners.

Valiant Lady

Launched in 2022, this adult-only, 2,770-passenger ship provides a fully-inclusive ‘edgy’ experience which rocks the boat in terms of immersive entertainment and freshly-prepared culinary offerings. The vast majority of super-yacht-style cabins have a sea view and sassy nuances. virginvoyages.com

Our celebritystudded Princess Cruise

Broadcaster Eamonn Holmes OBE joins our third Seminar at Sea alongside 95 consultants

In May 2024 some 95 of our travel consultants and corporate team members were given the royal treatment on board Princess Cruise’s luxurious Sky Princess for our third Seminar at Sea.

Accompanying the group was TV presenter Eamonn Holmes OBE on his inaugural trip with us as our new company spokesperson. Being such a familiar everyday face in households across the country, his presence certainly caused a stir among our franchisees. What’s more, he was joined by his TV presenting colleague, social media influencer and close friend Hayley Sparks, our brand ambassador.

This celebrity-studded trip was a perfect opportunity for our agents to learn all there is to know about our host cruise line – the amazing Princess

Cruises – and experience life on board Sky Princess as it glided across the Scandinavian seas en route to Denmark and Norway.

While on board our agents made the most of the facilities lapping up Sky Princess’s unparalleled service, exquisite entertainment and delectable dining. They savoured Michelin-starred menus and sampled the cocktails served by the ship’s master mixologists – all in the name of research!

On-board training

They also attended pioneering workshops and training sessions designed to elevate their business to a new level.

Our company co-founder, Steve Witt, imparted some of his own tried and tested business growth strategies

(as an award-winning entrepreneur and a serial inventor, he’s definitely qualified in this field); while Hayley spoke about ways agents could elevate their personal brands to find new customers.

On-board speakers

Meanwhile, Princess Cruises’ very own sales development manager Andrew Jeans spoke of all the great ways that Princess Cruises sets itself apart from the competition. And of course, Eamonn gave a fantastically inspirational talk with his usual wit and flair.

As each day progressed, our consultants became more knowledgeable about the cruise market and disembarked knowing the Princess brand inside out.

“This was an amazing experience in every way. I

learnt so much about how to grow my cruise sales, my travel business and about the amazing Princess brand. I was blown away by the quality of everything onboard including the food, the service and even the Rock Opera show which included ‘signed’ dancers. It was amazing,” said one of our consultants Andy Richardson.

Commenting on the success of this latest seminar, Neal Hussey, NJT senior cruise business development manager, said: “Our Seminar at Sea cruises are getting better all the time. This one is going to take some beating.

However, the great thing about the cruise market being so big is that no two Seminar at Sea cruises need ever be the same, so there’s always something new for our consultants to learn and experience every single time.”

Senior cruise business development manager Duncan Croucher, talks about NJT’s Cruise Division

Can you tell us about your cruise experience, your role at NJT and how you help travel consultants?

NJT launched a cruise division in September 2022. I lead the team of dedicated cruise BDMs to help consultants increase cruise sales as well as assist with group bookings and events. I have 30 years in cruising and have worked for P&O Cruises, Cunard and Regent Seven Seas.

Can you tell us a bit about the NJT Cruise Mastery Programme?

It’s a 12-month programme designed to develop and grow business knowledge and confidence with members working through bite-size modules and attending online webinars on everything from mainstream and luxury ocean and river cruising to expedition and small ship boutique cruising. Agents who sign up get exclusive access to module training, content from our key cruise partners, our new cruise website, a closed social media group, a dedicated area on The Hub and assistance from our expert cruise BDMs who have years of experience in the industry. Members are also first to know certain things, for example new offers and campaigns and get the opportunity to attend a Seminar at Sea – with at least one planned every year.

In 2024 you went on NJT’s 4th Seminar at Sea. What did you enjoy most?

The beauty of sailing with Virgin Voyages is that it’s a relatively new cruise line to market and as a premium adult-only cruise line it offers something completely different to other mainstream cruises. There will definitely be a healthy mix of training along with fantastic ports of call and a lot of fun onboard.

Q Q Q Q

Do you really see people transform into cruise specialists after joining the Cruise Division?

Absolutely. I love watching our travel consultants increase their business by really growing in confidence and knowledge through learning and experiencing cruise brands first hand. There’s some exciting things in the pipeline for the development and enhancement of our cruise training programme which will mean our travel consultants will have even more product training at their fingertips.

Meet the team

Not Just Travel and The Travel Franchise has recruited some of the best experts in their fields. Read about their roles and how they can help you grow your travel agency

“We

strongly believe in the mantra ‘to build the business you build the people’ and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

Paul Harrison CO-FOUNDER

Darren Thompson NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Director of award-winning firm Meridian Corporate Finance, Darren was a founding cornerstone investor and board director for loveholidays and had an instrumental role in helping the travel company become the 10th fastest growing UK private company in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.

Following some very turbulent years in the travel industry, I believe that now is the right time to help the team grow and expand to become the UK’s leading holiday provider.”

Stephen Badger CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Derek Jones NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

With over 30 years’ experience in the travel industry, Derek has enjoyed an illustrious career and was formerly CEO of Der Touristik UK and MD of Kuoni. Having helped create one of biggest brands in luxury travel, he joined in May 2023 to shape and drive NJT’s next rapid phase of growth.

I’m here to support Not Just Travel and find the right strategy to move the business forward. Paul and Steve have ambitious plans for the company and I’m here to help them achieve them.”

Stephen brings a wealth of knowledge with him, having led the finance teams at both Virgin Media and luxury hotel brand Mr & Mrs Smith. Stephen’s first introduction to the business was to go through the same onboarding and induction programme as travel consultants.

As soon as I met Steve, Paul and Derek, I knew our personalities and ambitions aligned. Not Just Travel is a formidable company with incredible potential. The business has a wonderful team and culture and we will ensure we keep that as we grow.”

“We already have an incredible team who got us where we are today, but we are now elevating our talent above and beyond.”

Steve Witt CO-FOUNDER

Clare Cruise HEAD OF CRUISE (COMMERCIAL)

With over 35 years in travel, 15 of which have been immersed in cruise, Clare ensures we have the best relationship with the right key trade partners and that they provide great deals and opportunities for our franchisees. Clare believes that cruise represents one of the biggest opportunities for consultants to build their business and urges new recruits to focus on this profitable niche, joining our Cruise Division to gain access to training and top support from our team of cruise experts.

Jenny Farenden HEAD OF FRANCHISE

MARKETING

Jenny has worked for 16 years in marketing, half in franchising, and has experience turning a small service business into one of the UK’s largest franchises. Since joining NJT in 2022, she’s recruited numerous successful consultants, 98% new to travel.

Laura Simpson HEAD OF OPERATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Laura’s team continues to grow rapidly and provides administration support and concierge services to every agent. She has worked in the travel industry for over 25 years in roles including overseas operations and UK luxury travel and tours.

Ed Ramsay DATA MANAGEMENT

Ed ensures consultants have all the technical and online managerial tools they need to deliver exceptional service to their customers. He previously worked in the global energy and supply chain management sectors for 25 years in software development and project management.

Claire Smith HEAD OF LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE

Claire has worked for NJT for over 17 years in sales and as head of operations. After taking a law degree and qualifying as a solicitor in her spare time, she’s now in charge of NJT’s legal department and compliance and is based in our head office in Bournemouth.

Why Eamonn Holmes has joined our team

He’s the champion of daytime television and now he’s the champion of The Travel Franchise and Not Just Travel.

Find out why he’s chosen to represent us.

Eamonn Holmes OBE needs no introduction. He’s a household name with his face appearing on our TV screens on an almost daily basis. He’s the world’s longest-serving breakfast television anchor –and now he’s joined our team!

Having amassed more than 26 years with GMTV and Sky News, it’s no wonder that in 2018 Eamonn was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to broadcasting.

Although perhaps best known for being a presenter of ITV’s This Morning, Eamonn is an avid traveller and admits that he loved his time hosting BBC1’s Holiday programme.

What’s more, he’s long been a consistent vocal supporter of travel agents, particularly during the pandemic. Back in July 2020, when world travel was on its knees, the presenter said live on This Morning that the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic had made him appreciate the value of travel agents even more.

“Working in news means that I often see or report on how the travel industry is disrupted. During the pandemic it was clear that those who had booked through travel agents had support, advice and expertise when they needed it most.

“I would never think of booking my holiday independently myself. I pick up a phone and talk to a travel consultant who I know and trust and who can add value and security.”

Eamonn was introduced to The Travel Franchise via his friend and fellow TV presenting colleague, Hayley Sparks, who joined us as our brand ambassador in 2023. Hayley was so excited about the company that she couldn’t wait to tell Eamonn all about it.

Equally impressed, Eamonn was keen to get in on the action too.

Eamonn is now a keynote speaker on many of our overseas training trips and conferences, bringing his inimitable charm and charisma with him. But most of all he’s keen to champion the work of franchisees who have trained to become Not Just Travel consultants.

“What I love the most about Not Just Travel and The Travel Franchise is the passion everybody has - not just for travel, but for helping others and I really want to be a part of this,” said Eamonn.

One of the things that impresses him most is the fact that many franchisees have never

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worked in travel before yet become hugely successful, often in a short time frame with our training and support.

“I think it’s fascinating that the majority of consultants have worked in other jobs and yet they’ve chosen to retrain and do something completely different, to start a new adventure in travel.

“I always say that if you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life. And there certainly seems to be great enthusiasm amongst the company’s consultants. Many people are obviously searching for their ideal profession and clearly many franchisees have found it. Travel is a magical thing.”

Of course our company co-founder Paul Harrison couldn’t wait to welcome Eamonn

onboard: “He has an instantly recognisable face in households across the nation.

“During Covid, Eamonn was a massive champion of the travel industry; now he’s the champion of The Travel Franchise and Not Just Travel.”

Wasting no time to introduce him (in the flesh) to our consultants, Eamonn’s first mission with us was to join us and 85 franchisees on our Seminar at Sea cruise onboard the ship Sky Princess

Our consultants were thrilled to meet him, but even more exciting is what he brings to the company and the message he sends to the public - travel agents add value to any holiday booking, so make sure you use one (preferably from Not Just Travel!).

Get on track

Want to become a corporate champion? Our brand champion, Daley Thompson CBE, explains why running a small business is like training for a decathlon and how you can improve your performance

Image: Independent / Alamy

Daley Thompson CBE is widely regarded as one of the UK’s greatest Olympians. Not only has he won two Olympic gold medals, but he also broke the world record four times in the hardest discipline of them all: the decathlon. As Not Just Travel’s brand champion, Daley attends many of our events and annual conferences. He also runs his own London gym, Daley Fitness, so knows a thing or two about owning a business. Read his top 10 tips on how to overcome the many hurdles that may come your way.

1

Manage multiple disciplines effectively at the same time

Decathlons consist of 10 track and field events spread over two days. That means competitors have to be good at sprinting various distances, ranging from 100m to 1,500m, as well as jumping, hurdles and throwing the javelin, discus and shot put. The analogy between competing in a decathlon and running a business? To make a success in either, you need to be good at multiple disciplines. It’s about being an all-rounder with various strengths rather than a master of one skill (unless that skill is surrounding yourself with and delegating to people who are good at what you’re not!). You need to look at the big picture. If you lose focus on one aspect of your business, be it networking or accounts, your performance will falter.

2

Know where your core strengths and biggest weaknesses lie

The decathlon is a variety of events designed to test strength, endurance and speed. Competitors will naturally have areas where they are stronger, and those in which they are weaker. The trick, with business and sport, is to know where your weakness lies and make a strategy to become better. If I felt I was weaker at a certain discipline, I would work harder at it, often with my coach. Business owners, however, have an advantage. Not only can they take extra training to improve

in an area, they can choose to outsource that part of the business to experts. If you’re lacking knowledge in technology or accounting, pay a specialist to undertake these tasks so you can focus on what you’re good at and concentrate on the important income-generating activities. Reaching out and asking someone for help is a strength, not a weakness.

3

Surround yourself with people who make you better

Athletes are constantly striving to find ways to better their performance. The good ones surround themselves with people who can support and challenge them when needed. Create a positive network of friends and family and avoid or even ditch the negative people who are holding you back. Join a local business association where you can meet other like-minded people who are inspiring and who have goals to make it to the top of their game. Their passion can be infectious.

4

Recognise, embrace and acknowledge team effort

When it comes to the Olympics, the watching world just sees one man or woman in the stadium. What they don’t see is the team behind the scenes busily working with that athlete to make them successful. They don’t see the parents who got up at 4am to help their child train, or the partner who loses

their loved one for weeks on end. Or the coach that has dedicated their lives to them. Very few people succeed in isolation. Business is similar. It’s not just your success, but the success of your support network. If someone has helped you, acknowledge them. Show them how much you appreciate them. They will be more likely to help you again in the future.

Don’t get distracted. Follow the line to reach your goal quicker

The starting gun has fired and you’re racing along at speed. Now is not the time to get creative and try new tactics. This isn’t the time to divert on a detour. It’s the same in business, and even more so when buying a franchise. A franchise is a ready-made business with all the tools you need. You’re investing in a tried-andtested strategy – a proven template. Follow the advice and do what you’ve learned from your coaches and success will follow. If you have a goal and you know what it takes to get there, stay in the lane to reach that goal.

“A franchise is a readymade business. You’re investing in a tried-andtested strategy”

Daley Thompson

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST AND NJT CHAMPION

6

7 5 10 9 8

Avoid burn-out and look after yourself to stay in the game

As an athlete, your health is your greatest asset. Without it you will fail. The same is true in business, but many entrepreneurs end up working too many hours and burnout fast. Take regular breaks, eat well, exercise daily and give yourself time to switch off and recharge. Oh, and remember to take a holiday!

Push on and go the distance, overcoming obstacles

Some athletes get to the top fast, but most Olympic medals and world records are the result of many years of hard work. Successful entrepreneurs follow a similar path. As Steve Jobs said: “Overnight success stories take a long time.” Every failure is a lesson. Every obstacle you overcome is part of your future success.

Listen to experts and learn from them

There are incredible athletes who inspire others. There are game-changing entrepreneurs who do the same. The trick is to learn from the best. For years now I have enjoyed Not Just Travel conferences and events. I have listened to the experts who come to share their knowledge and to travel consultants who have built incredibly successful businesses. We can all learn from them. I’ve used a few of the techniques in my own gym business.

Embrace competition and don’t be afraid to fail

Healthy competition can make you a better athlete – and can inspire you to keep improving your business. Don’t be intimidated by your rivals. It’s competition that keeps businesses constantly striving to improve. And don’t be afraid to fail. As nice as it would be to win all the time, it’s about perspective with everything directed towards building the blocks to reach successes. Be determined and and believe in yourself.

Remember the motivation you had at the start

People rarely make it to the top if they aren’t passionate about what they do. Natural ability helps, but drive is absolutely essential. If you truly love what you do, you will stay motivated and truly driven despite hurdles that stand in your way. Never lose track of what made you passionate about the job in the first place.

Daley Thompson –

Why I chose to work with Not Just Travel

During my time as an Olympic athlete, I travelled to numerous countries competing. It’s that passion for travel and the motivation of Not Just Travel’s amazing consultants that made me want to work with the company. Not Just Travel is a company that never stands still. It is always innovating and improving its offer to its members. I believe in the ethics and vision of its founders, Paul and Steve.

As a sportsman, I know the importance of training. No-one offers better training,

mentoring and support than Not Just Travel. I’ve been to conferences and trips in the past and have seen it in action – how the company transforms people’s lives through the training and development programmes, conferences and incredible trips abroad.

I’ve seen members turn their lives from the monotonous daily corporate grind to the globe-trotting excitement and unlimited income of a travel consultant – or the simple pleasure they get in doing what they love while spending more time with their family.

Our TV-star brand ambassador

With a passion for travel and a positive can-do attitude, TV presenter and social media influencer Hayley Sparks is the perfect partner to shout about our brand and be our Not Just Travel company ambassador

Hayley Sparkes flew to fame after appearing as a beauty presenter on ITV’s This Morning show. Now she’s joined NJT as brand ambassador and influencer.

So how did this relationship come about? The truth: Hayley was the one to get in touch with us. Having seen a post from The Travel Franchise (TTF) on Instagram, she watched Paul’s Discovery videos on the TTF website and was so impressed she simply picked up the phone for a chat.

“The fact that NJT has won so many industry awards really impressed me. As a businesswoman, I know that’s no easy feat,” says Hayley. “I surround myself with likeminded people who care and empower others and that’s why I got so excited when I spoke personally to Paul and then Steve.”

Overseas trips

Since joining us back in the summer of 2023, Hayley’s feet have hardly touched the floor.

She’s now a regular face on our overseas training retreats. She’s joined us on one of our Elite Experiences to Jamaica; she’s attended a Millionaire’s Retreat in Fuerteventura and she’s joined us onboard two of our sell-out Seminar at Sea trips when we take our consultants on a real-life cruise to master the art of selling a cruise.

It’s fair to say, she’s become a friend to so many of our travel consultants and, as well as sharing her personal branding and social media tips with all our franchisees, she’s opened up about her own struggles in life. Following a serious bowel disease called ulcerative colitis, Hayley explains how she was “stripped of her childhood”. Diagnosed at seven years old, her health became so bad at 14 that she was unable to leave the house or attend school. Family holidays were cancelled and, as her parents spent all their money on treatment, they could barely afford them anyway.

Hayley says: “In 1997 I was rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery and woke up in intensive care to find my large intestines

had been removed and I had a colostomy bag. When I was lying in bed, unable to move or sleep, I would plan family holidays for when I got my life back.”

Dream comes true

Now Hayley’s making up for lost years and living life to the full. “The fact that I travel the world, filming and sharing what I’m doing is a dream come true. I genuinely want to help others plan their dream holidays.”

“Hayley is at the top of her game and provides our brand with instant credibility and likeability,” says co-founder Paul Harrison. “Like our consultants, they’re professional yet relatable. Hayley is a natural fit for our brand; a truly inspirational, yet authentic digital influencer.

“We are surrounding ourselves with influential and inspirational professionals who are passionate about travel. We know that people choose to do business with those who they know, like and trust, and Hayley will accelerate that process for our travel consultants with their social authority.”

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Be part ofsomething special

Awards, friendships and industry recognition – just a few of the incentives available to all our travel consultants

It’s easy to see the benefits of becoming a travel agent – the freedom of running your own business from home and the financial rewards for your hard work. But at Not Just Travel, we’re not just about the money.

In fact, one of the best things about joining NJT is the lifestyle. Travel consultants often become good friends with their business development managers, and there’s nothing like an agent familiarisation (FAM) trip abroad or luxury training retreat to build connections with other agents, as you start the adventure of a lifetime together.

Our agents often phone each other after training for a catch-up or to share tips, then see each other again at a conference or perhaps on one of our annual ski and golf trips. They thrive on the support network and

the events we offer. There’s a ‘work hard, play hard’ ethic in travel and especially at NJT, where the thrill of growing a circle of like-minded agents and sharing our adventure is what keeps us at the very top.

Team spirit means we’re always pulling together. We have a ‘success ladder’ where agents are awarded ‘pins’ for reaching certain levels of sales – a great way to drive recognition among your peers (see p51). If all goes well, your success may result in industry awards featured in trade magazines such as Travel Weekly and Travel Trade Gazette, or even interviews, podcasts and community events to help boost your profile.

As part of one of the biggest names in travel, you’ll be joining something thrilling, respected and truly special.

Agents at home and away

Our homeworking travel consultants choose where and when they work, taking bookings abroad and at home in their offices, often with their pets and offspring by their sides. Others have chosen to open shops or offices

Tracey Fordham

The Coyne HQ

Kelly Baldwin’s Aspire Team

Sarah Heduan

Natasha and James Oliphant

Rachel Tredwell

The agents that make a difference...

Big commissions count, but money isn’t everything. Some agents raise money for charity while others gain a sense of purpose planning and booking holidays for people who need it most.

Charity trek & car rally

In 2024, many of our travel consultants made a meaningful impact by contributing to charitable causes. A group of 21 agents and corporate team trekked the challenging Inca trail walking up to nine hours on one day to raise over £10,000 for breast cancer charity Pink Ribbon Foundation.

Nicknamed the ‘Breast Trek Ever’, the 26mile trek saw franchisees climb to altitudes of 4,200m and, on the third night, wake at 2am to trek the final stretch to step through the famous Sun Gate to the forgotten city of

Machu Picchu.

In addition to this inspiring trek, our company proudly sponsored The Travel Trade Crusade, a quirky charity event where 18 flamboyantly decorated cars raced across six European countries in just three days. Teams were required to dress in costumes and complete embarrassing challenges along the way. Seven of our consultant teams participated, each supporting their own chosen charity, and collectively they helped raise over £35,000.

David Wallace Kelly Baldwin

This money is making a real difference to Caitlin’s life.”

Our Partners in Travel scheme helps franchisees to raise funds for their chosen charity. Consultants simply partner with a charity and split any commission made from holidays that come via referrals.

Personal travel consultant Kelly, from Aspire Travel, raised over £11,000 from more than 83 holiday bookings after setting up a Partner in Travel.

The money has gone towards funding a local girl, Caitlin, who suffers from juvenile Batten disease and has lost almost all of her vision.

“Being able to support Caitlin through our fundraising efforts has been incredibly meaningful to me and everyone at Aspire Travel,” said Kelly.

I plan holidays abroad for deaf and hearing impaired people”

David, 51, has worked in numerous senior management roles, worlds apart from working in travel. After being made redundant, twice in six years, he wanted a total career change and joined The Travel Franchise in 2021. After noticing that deaf people often found it hard to plan and book holidays he decided to help.

“I’d had enough of being dispensable. I wanted something different from life – something that I was in control of. You can’t be made redundant when you’re your own boss. My wife works for a deaf charity and I wondered if I could help too. I now plan dream holidays for deaf and hearing impaired people using a video link with my wife signing. This business not only has helped me with my confidence and sense of security, but I can use it to help others too.”

Company conferences

Our UK and overseas conferences enable agents to get together, learn, network and have fun

While most of us are accustomed to online meetings nowadays, nothing beats getting together in person every once in a while.

That’s why we host several conferences each year with opportunities to meet our team, travel suppliers and other travel consultants face to face.

We also invite experts who can share knowledge on travel and business skills to help our travel consultants achieve their personal and professional goals.

Business development

Every UK conference is packed full of exciting announcements about our company’s plans and goals. It’s an opportunity to meet our co-founders as well as new team members, and discover new pioneering initiatives and unique tools which can help boost your business.

Supplier partnerships

Some of our key trade suppliers give presentations at our conferences sharing information about travel

trends and new products. There is also time for our consultants to meet with our travel partners on a one-toone basis, establish or build relationships and make a plan for the year ahead.

Awards & entertainment

Success does not go unnoticed at NJT and we use the conference as an opportunity to recognise those who are progressing up our career ladder (see p51) and achieving (and often exceeding) their goals and

wildest ambitions. Typically, every conference has one (or two) big nights with live entertainment, food and dancing.

New for 2024

Our new overseas summer conference is aimed at Platinum agents who have established businesses and have earned over £20,000 in commission. This event will focus on taking your business to the next level and networking with some of the most successful consultants in the business.

Company awards & agent achievements

Our trophy cabinet is bursting at the seams thanks to national recognition of our hard-working franchisees, inspirational founders, pioneering initiatives and continued sales success

South

The Scale up Business of the Year Award

The Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards

2023

Sustainability Champions

Sustainability Champion of the Year (large) Agent Achievement Awards

SHORTLISTED 2023

Homeworking Agency of the Year (large) Agent Achievement Awards

SHORTLISTED 2023

Best Agency to Work For Award (large) Agent Achievement Awards

SHORTLISTED 2023

Eco Franchise of the Year

Disruptive Franchise Awards

Star Homeworking Group

SHORTLISTED 2023

Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year

Steve Witt and Paul Harrison

Great British Entrepreneur Awards

SHORTLISTED 2023

The Business Person of the Year Steve Witt

SHORTLISTED 2023

Company Awards

Business Growth

Central South Business Awards

SHORTLISTED 2023

Most Innovative Travel Consulting Franchise Business Elite Awards

SHORTLISTED 2023

Homeworking Agency of the Year

Audley Travel

WINNERS 2022

Homeworking Agency of the Year

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Homeworking Agency of the Year Classic Awards

WINNERS

2021 & 2022

Sustainability

Hero of the Year

Steve and Paul Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Luxury Travel Workplace of the Year

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Luxury Homeworking Business of the Year (large) Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Franchisor of the Year & Best Technology & Innovation

Virtual Franchising Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

Star Homeworking Group

Travel Bulletin Star Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

Sustainability Champions

Aspire Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

Fastest Growth in Business Exsus Travel Awards

WINNERS 2022

Best Bespoke Travel Consultancy

European Travel Awards

WINNERS 2022

Independent Agency of the Year

Aspire Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

The Business Person of the Year

Central South Business Awards

WINNERS 2022

Champions of Sustainability

Travolution Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

Best Homeworking Travel Agency

Cruise Adviser

WINNERS 2022

Lloyds LDC Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Steve Witt and Paul Harrison

SHORTLISTED 2022

Sustainability Champion of the Year Agent Achievement Awards Travel Weekly

WINNERS 2022

Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year

Steve Witt and Paul Harrison

Great British Entrepreneur Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

Homeworking Agency of the Year

Agent Achievement Awards

Travel Weekly

SHORTLISTED 2022

Best Agency to Work For Agent Achievement Awards Travel Weekly

SHORTLISTED 2022

Best Travel Franchise Business Elite Awards by SME

WINNERS 2022

Homeworking Agency of the Year

Travel2

WINNERS 2015-2019

Outstanding Achievement Award Sandals

WINNERS 2017

Outstanding Achievement Award

Hays

WINNERS 2017

Top Homeworking Agency: UK & Ireland

Travel Trade Gazette

WINNERS 2020

Smarter, Better, Fairer Travel

Agent of the Year

Isobel McCardie

Travel Trade Gazette

WINNER 2024

Mental Health Matters Award

Lisa and Paul - Travel Freaks

Travel Weekly

WINNER 2024

Best Cruise Agent

Ross Johnson

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2024

Best Homebased Travel Agent

Gilly Bachelor and Isobel McCardie

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2024

Home-based Agent of the Year

Gilly Bachelor

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2024

Sustainable Travel Champion of the Year

Annika Nickson

Travel Weekly

SHORTLISTED 2024

Leisure Agent of the Year Gemma Poppy Outram Travel Weekly

SHORTLISTED 2024

Sustainable Travel Champion of the Year Award

Rachel Tredwell

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2024

Community Hero Award

Rachael and Colman Coyne

Travel trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2024

Agent of the Year & Best

Home Based Agent

Ben Casey

Travel Trade Gazette

WINNER 2023

Luxury Seller of the Year and Sustainability Supplier of the Year

Rachel Tredwell Aspire Awards

SHORTLISTED 2023

Leisure Agent of the Year David Walker

Achievement Awards

2023

Disruptive Franchisee

Walker

Awards

WINNER 2023 Agent Awards

New Luxury Travel Designer of the Year

Ross Johnson

Travel Trade Gazette

WINNER 2023

Top Homeworker Award

Raine Martin Classic Awards

WINNER 2022

New Luxury Travel Designer of the Year

Ross Johnson Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

New Luxury Travel Designer of the Year

Rachel Tredwell

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

New Luxury Travel Designer of the Year

Reshma Aggarwal

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Franchisee of the Year

Rachael Coyne

Virtual Franchising Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

Great British Franchisee Award

Rachael & Colman Coyne WhichFranchise.com

WINNERS 2022

New Agent of the Year

Ami Wood

The Travel Industry Awards 2022 by Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Home-Based Agent of the Year

Rachael & Colman Coyne

The Travel Industry Awards 2022 by Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Home-Based Agent of the Year

Gilly Bachelor

The Travel Industry Awards 2022/23 by Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022 & 2023

Customer Service Award for Honeymoons & Weddings Abroad

Rachel Tredwell

Guides for Brides Awards

WINNER 2022

Home-Based Agent of the Year, UK & Ireland

Ben Casey

WINNER 2023 Our success is validated by these awards

Travel Agent of the Year

The Travel Industry Awards 2023 by Travel Trade Gazette

WINNER 2023

Smarter, Better, Fairer Travel Agent of the Year

Gilly Bachelor

The Travel Industry Awards 2023 by Travel Trade Gazette

Voted the Best Lifestyle Franchise in the world!

Celebrating two big wins and international recognition at the 2025 Global Franchise

Awards

In February 2025 we were voted Best Lifestyle Franchise in the world and Best European Franchise at the Global Franchise Awards 2025.

Each year, the International Franchise Association (IFA) –the world’s biggest franchise association – hosts a four-day annual convention, and this year, it was held in Las Vegas. The highlight of the event is the highly soughtafter Global Franchise Awards — essentially the “Oscars” of the franchise world.

The judging panel consists of CEOs, Presidents and franchise experts who carefully evaluate each franchise. With only around 16 awards given, the competition is fierce, and British franchises seldom take home a win.

But we took home two —officially voted the no.1 Lifestyle Franchise in the world and the Best Franchise in Europe for 2025!

Our co-founder Paul Harrison, who received the trophy at a star-studded event in Las Vegas, said:

“What started as a dream to give anyone the opportunity to become home-based travel consultants has grown into a multimillion-pound powerhouse with more than 670 UK franchises.

“Now, with the latest award, the business is not seen as the UK’s leading franchise for people new to travel but officially recognised as one of the top franchises in the world.”

The judges were particularly impressed by our innovative business model, training, and support, which enables anyone — even those completely new to the travel industry — to start their own travel business.

What’s even more impressive is that many franchisees achieve success within their first year — something that would be impossible without the support we provide.

Innovation in Travel Award confirms we have the edge

We’re thrilled to share that in March 2025 we were awarded the Innovation in Travel Award at the UK Business Awards! The judges were blown away by how we’re empowering new entrepreneurs with cutting-edge franchising opportunities and tech driven solutions!

In the same month, Gold Medal awarded us an Outstanding Partner Award (TOP). When you join, you’ll gain access to operators that the public can’t use, and Gold Medal is one of them. We have an exceptional relationship with them, and they even provide us with exclusive offers. As a renowned longhaul operator, Gold Medal gives our agents

TTG votes us Best Luxury Travel Homeworking Business of the Year (large)

Our customer-facing brand, Not Just Travel, was awarded the title of Luxury Travel Homeworking Business of the Year (large) by TTG, one of the leading travel trade media outlets in February 2025.

Over 350 leading figures in luxury travel gathered at the glittering ceremony at Raffles London, located in what was the Old War Office building, the historic location which inspired Ian Fleming’s creation of James Bond (007).

With just 19 awards recognising innovation, creativity and business success over the past 12 months, competition was harsh with 27 judges scrutinising entries.

“Our awards are some of the toughest to win in the travel industry,” said April Hutchinson, editor and publisher of TTG Luxury magazine

“Specific congratulations came from our judges for Not Just Travel’s fascinating and thoughtful growth and its clear future ambitions. The judges also observed that to be delivering such impressive results for its agents – most of which are recruited from

access to over 135 airlines, special rates at 100,000 hotels, plus car hire, tours, cruises, and excursions. This prestigious award is given to agencies that not only book large volumes of holidays with the operator but also make the partnership a joy to work with.

outside the travel industry – Not Just Travel’s training must be second-to-none.”

Our co-founder Paul Harrison who received the awards said: “I am blown away. To be a finalist is a feat, but to win is truly incredible. It shows that even though we train and support people new to travel, we still outperform those who typically take on experienced agents. That’s all down to our training, support and our relationships with suppliers.”

Named No. 10 in Franchise

Direct’s Top 100 UK Franchise Leaderboard

After an in-depth analysis of hundreds of franchise brands, The Travel Franchise shot straight to 10th position in this prestigious national league table.

As we are the only travel franchise to have been included in the Top 100, that makes us the best travel franchise in the UK!

We’ve also beaten big brands like Vodafone (no.12) and are now hot on the heels of distinguished food and beverage brands like Burger King and KFC!

With the top 10 dominated by food and drink franchises (see right) we are clearly making a mark in a highly competitive marketplace and continue to expand and break sales records.

“Shooting straight to number 10 and beating big brands like Vodafone is testament that our franchise is truly innovative,” says co-founder Paul Harrison.

Best Home-Based Franchise and the UK’s Best Travel Franchise

In 2024, The Travel Franchise was honoured with the Best Home-Based Franchise award at the Franchise Business Awards. Co-founder Paul Harrison expressed his pride, stating: “Being recognised as the best across all franchise sectors is a remarkable achievement. It reflects the outstanding training and support we provide to our franchisees. Over the past year, we’ve invested millions into the company, and it’s clear that this commitment is paying off. We’re now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest global brands.”

The Travel Franchise also claimed the title of UK’s Best Travel Franchise at the 2024 SME Awards. Harrison highlighted the company’s unique offerings: “No other travel franchise

TOP 100 FRANCHISES IN THE UK

provides such a distinctive package. Our Elite franchise includes free mentorship retreats abroad and the opportunity to have your franchise fee refunded. We’re already ahead of the curve, but just wait until you see what we have in store for 2025.”

Cruise Member of the Year

Not Just Travel was awarded the prestigious title of ‘Cruise Member of The Year 2024’ at the Hays Travel Annual 2024 Conference.

“It’s an honour that our success in the cruise market has been recognised by our valuable partner, Hays,” says co-founder Paul Harrison. “Since September 2022 we have invested more money, time and resources into cruise than any other company we know and are now reaping the profits. 2024 cruise sales were up circa 40% compared to 2023.”

Harriet Thompson, Head of Independence Group, Hays Travel said: “Not Just Travel has grown their cruise sales by several million in the last six months, as well as investing heavily in the cruise training and support their business offers to its homeworkers.”

Great British Scale Up Entrepreneur of the Year

In 2023, our co-founders were honoured to receive recognition for their outstanding growth and leadership. Says Paul Harrison: “Though we are now an established company, our rapid growth persists, consistently surpassing sales forecasts. Steve and I may have been recognized as business leaders, but it’s the entrepreneurial spirit of every single person at NJT that has driven our success.”

“These are some of the most prestigious national business awards on the circuit. It makes us proud of our vision, our staff and our team of consultants.”

Paul Harrison CO-FOUNDER

Highly Commended Partnership Achievement Award - P&O Cruises

Not Just Travel collaborates with over 40 key trade partners to strengthen the expertise of its consultants, providing them with valuable training, discounts, and a competitive edge. P&O Cruises stands out as a key partner and in 2024 the cruise line saw a significant increase in bookings from our consultants. With the launch of P&O’s new ship, Arvia, in 2025, this is a partnership to keep an eye on!

Canadian Affair & American Affair

4 7/5 Trustpilot Score for Canadian Affair - based on over 3,000 reviews

Canadian Affair is a well-established tour operator offering tailor-made holidays to Canada and Alaska Founded in 1995, they pride themselves on their unmatched knowledge and expertise built up over nearly 30 years. American Affair has been introduced to widen the reach of their expertise in North America, whilst keeping true to their specialist culture.

Offering a broad range of holiday types, including rail & cruise, motorhome and self-drive holidays, escorted tours, city breaks, specialist wildlife and adventure holidays, winter sports and outdoor adventure breaks, Canadian Affair and American Affair can build the perfect holiday for every customer.

Canadian Affair and American Affair offer:

Booking incentives for agents

ATOL protection on all holidays

Peace of mind policy

Staff with expert knowledge of Canada and the USA

Agents

Rachael and Colman Coyne, who own and run Huddersfield-based Jetset Not Just Travel, won a Great British Franchisee Award from whichfranchise.com, the highest honour in the franchising world.

Sunset Seeking

From serene, azure waters to vibrant coastal cityscapes, sail aboard our lady ships to sea the world The Virgin Way. And with luxurious inclusions on every voyage — like dining at 20+ eateries, entertainment, WiFi, essential drinks, tips, and unlimited group fitness classes — you’re in for more than just smooth sailing to more than 100 destinations around the world.

To learn more, contact your travel advisor Or visit virginvoyages.com

Leisure Agent of the Year Award - Travel Weekly

Homeworking consultant David Walker has sold well over £10 million-worth of holidays and was recently crowned Leisure Agent of the Year 2023 by prestigious industry trade newspaper Travel Weekly.

“To say I am overwehelmed is an understatement,” said David who was stunned by the messages of congratulations from clients and fellow consultants.

“I love what I do and it shows,” he said. Read his full story on p50.

Luxury Designer of The Year Award 2024 - TTG

Consultant Ross Johnson was named Travel Trade Gazette’s New Luxury Travel Designer Of The Year at a glitzy industry ceremony in February 2023. Ross, who has worked for over 10 years as a musical director and pianist, launched his travel business with us in December 2020 without any previous experience in travel.

Agent of the Year & Best Home-Based Agent - TTG

Despite having never worked in travel when he joined us in 2019, Ben Casey won Home-Based Travel Agent Of The Year plus Agent of the Year 2023 in TTG’s esteemed Travel Industry Awards.

David Walker and Gilly Bachelor were also shortlisted for Home-Based Travel Agent of the Year, while Gilly also won Smarter, Better, Fairer Travel Agent of the Year 2023.

“The shortlist of the entire UK consisted of just eight consultants and three were from Not Just Travel which goes to show what an amazing job our consultants are doing,” says co-founder Steve Witt.

Two years later, with the support of The Travel Franchise, he’s sold over £1 million-worth of holidays and has expanded the team bringing an old friend Sarah-Lou (pictured above left) onboard.

Two other franchisees, Reshma Aggarwal and Rachel Tredwell (aka the fairy godmother), were runners up too – and neither of them had worked in the travel industry before.

Joe Boot and partner Patty: Our youngest consultant, Joe, joined at 18 and reached the £3m milestone early 2024.

Rachel Tredwell: Won Guides for Brides Customer Service Award and shortlisted for TTG’s Sustainable Champion 2024

Gemma Outram: Cruise Agent of the Year & Travel Agent of the Year (TTG) plus Top Agent of the Year (P&O and Celebrity)

Sarah Heduan: Won the Hitched Wedding Awards 2022 and hit Platinum (£250,000 commission).

Theresa Kelly: Won Personal Travel Expert Somerset 2022 and has been interviewed on BBC Radio Somerset.

Lisa McCallum: Won Best Customer Service (silver) category at the 2024 Best Business Women awards..

From top, left to right: Mark and Isobel McCardie, High Flyers Club; Ben Casey, Top 10 High Flyers; Lloydie Gardiner, High Flyers Club; Raine Martin, High Flyers Club and Top Homeworker, 2022 Classic Awards; Andy Richardson, High Flyers Club; Sarah Laverty, High Flyers Club; Amy Howerd, Top 10 High Flyers; Emma Summerill, Top 10 High Flyers; Janet Lacey, Top 10 High Flyers.

Be a champion of sustainablity

How we can work together to save the planet and make a positive difference when we travel

The protection of the planet has to be a top priority, both in business and in life. As a travel company it’s even more important that we battle climate change and promote more sustainable and responsible practices.

Since launching our pioneering Climate Hero initiative in 2021, Not Just Travel consultants are on course to raise more than £40,000 with money

contributing to rewilding and restoration projects around the world, working closely with environmental partner Mossy Earth.

The pioneering initiative has also earned us industry recognition with Travel Weekly presenting Not Just Travel the prestigious ‘Sustainability Champion of the Year’ title at its 2022 Agent Achievement Awards.

We give our consultants the option of supporting our

Climate Hero initiative and those that do are incredibly positive. While most customers are happy to make a £5 contribution for every booking, regardless of the destination, some customers have given over £1,000.

NJT travel consultant Sally Bosman says: “It’s so easy to ask customers to contribute. I add it into the quote and tell the customers to let me know if they want it removed. No one has yet!”

Travel consultant Mark McCardie agrees: “We have had a fantastic response to the Climate Hero initiative from all our clients. It’s such a positive thing to be involved in, and helps our business stand out more. Booking a great holiday and doing your bit to help the environment, is a win-win for everybody.”

Co-founder Steve Witt explains: “Everyone knows that tourism is a contributor to climate change – it accounts for around 8 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. Rather than hide away from this, the Climate Hero initiative makes it easy for our franchisees to be part of the solution, as opposed to the problem.

“This is more than a tick in the box to say ‘look we’re doing our bit and planting a few trees’. Instead, 100 per cent of the funds raised support three distinct and critical ecosystems.

“We hope this inspires other travel companies out there to follow suit and implement solutions.”

Sustainability Awards

Sustainability Champion of the Year

Travel Weekly’s Agent Achievement Awards

WINNER 2022; SHORTLISTED 2023

Sustainability Champions

Aspire Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022 & 2023

Eco Franchise of the Year

Disruptive Franchise Awards

WINNER 2023 (THE TRAVEL FRANCHISE)

Sustainability Hero of the Year

Travel Trade Gazette

SHORTLISTED 2022

Champions of Sustainability

Travolution Awards

SHORTLISTED 2022

3 projects we support

Restoring Portugal’s kelp forests and seagrasses

Seagrasses and kelp can lock up carbon at a rate 30 times faster than pristine rainforest. They also support marine ecosystems and improve water quality, providing crucial nursing grounds for fish, dolphins and seahorses.

The

reintroduction of termite mounds

in West Africa

Termite mounds and tunnels change the structure of the soil and its ability to retain water, helping to generate ‘islands of fertility’ and an abundance of plants that help the savannah ecosystem survive during climate change and drought.

The restoration of Riparian woodlands in Scotland

By restoring native trees in the Highlands following deforestation, we can help lock up carbon and bring muchneeded shade along the banks of rivers which are warming up fast and threatening the extinction of salmon.

Thinking of joining us?

Key benefits include:

No travel experience necessary

Train and launch your business in a week

Franchise packages for different budgets

Work full time, part time or anytime

Book holidays from home… or away

The chance to get your franchise for free

Free luxury mentorship retreats abroad

PR and marketing support to help you win industry awards

Industry-leading commissions

Expert travel professionals to train and mentor you

Best industry coach-to-consultant ratio

Spread the word

Association with Hays Travel Group

New specialist Cruise Division and Mastery training programme

Annual company conferences and UK-wide training events

Weekly free webinars with training, tips and advice

Joint venture Partners in Travel programme to boost commission

New deals app for your customers

Subsidised company trips eg golf and ski

Exclusive deals from our travel partners

Friendly team with inspirational entrepreneurial co-founders who are present at events and conferences

Know anyone who would make a good travel agent, would like to work flexible hours from home and run their own business? Please pass them this sustainable magazine or recyle it.