Travel Counsellors named in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work, five years in a row

Shortly after the Government revealed their roadmap out of lockdown, Sandra Robinson was approached by ITV News and gave insight into the trends she’s seen from customers as a result, saying “people are wanting to get away, there’s pent up demand and light at the end of the tunnel.” 

Gill Nichols appeared on BBC Radio London's drivetime show, providing reassurance for those who are concerned about cancellations and emphasising the value of the travel expert. 

"People want that back-up, espcially now when things are so complicated, they want to turn to a professional" said Gill 

Meanwhile, Sarah Freeman appeared on BBC Radio 4’s consumer affairs programme, ‘You & Yours’ to discuss demand, advice for travelling this summer and how consumers can find value for money. 

Yvonne Campbell logged in from Barbados for her interview with Sky News. Yvonne is one of the 2000 people globally who applied for the Barbados Welcome Stamp, a special visa for remote workers allowing people to live in Barbados whilst continuing to work for an organisation based elsewhere. 

Read more from Yvonne in Travel Weekly. 

But it’s not just Travel Counsellor franchisees whose expertise is requested. 

In recent weeks, Travel Counsellors have been consulted by national news outlets such as The Express, The Mail on Sunday and This is Money. 

Managing Director, Kirsten Hughes, appeared on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester to talk about the demand for UK travel and how to be prepared to travel again. Listen here, from 10 minutes 30 seconds. 

Elsewhere on the BBC, Global Sales Director, Jim Eastwood, answers the questions on everyone’s lips; “Should I book a holiday?” “Will I get a decent price?” and “How easy is it to amend a booking?” 

Catch up on BBC Sounds: 

BBC Radio Leeds, from 3 hours 44 mins 

BBC Radio Cornwall, form 3 hours 38 mins 

BBC Radio Oxford, from 1 hour 38 mins 

And it's not just as a result of the pandemic that Travel Counsellors provide insight and commentary 

Travel Counsellor, Lisa Hillyard, regularly appears on Heart, Capital and BBC radio as well as independent regional radio stations. Throughout the pandemic, Lisa has been reassuring and building confidence in listeners, as well as clarifying some of the restrictions around travel. 

“I try to create awareness and positivity and am very careful with how I communicate to make sure everyone feels included.” says Lisa. 

Marie Rowe, hosts 'Real Adventures', a People’s Choice Podcast Awards nominated series which focuses on ‘beyond-the-beach’ travel inspiration. Marie says “it takes around 10 hours per episode, from conceptualising to publishing and marketing it but it’s great for getting my business out there and generating interest.” 

Meanwhile, mental health and wellbeing is the talking point of Lizzie Adamson-Brown’s podcast 'Mind. Body. Travel.' 

“Mental wellbeing always been my passion but due to Covid it became even more important. I truly believe travel improves us in terms of health and well-being.” said Lizzie 

Lizzie spoke to Travel Weekly about her podcast, which features guests from the NHS, psychologists and representative from DMCs who talk about wellbeing options in their destination. 

On average, our PR and Communications team are made aware of five separate press opportunities from individual Travel Counsellors every week. 

As the travel landscape continues to change, Travel Counsellors are proud to provide trusted travel expertise to consumers, as we have done for 26 years. 

Find out more about becoming a Travel Counsellor.

One of the less obvious aspects of what makes Travel Counsellors different is the relationship between being your own boss and still feeling part of something larger. TCs are independent business owners — they set their own hours, choose their own clients, and keep a significant share of what they earn. But they're also part of a network of more than 2,000 people, with a support team in Manchester, and a community that meets face to face at regional events and the annual conference.

Nat Adams, who joined TC after 12 years in corporate hospitality, described it this way: "I wanted freedom, but I didn't want to feel alone. That's exactly what TC gives you. The structure is there when you need it. When you don't need it, you don't notice it."

For anyone weighing up whether to join TC, the award is a data point worth taking seriously. It's based on anonymous surveys — not curated testimonials — and the people answering the questions are the same people who would be your peers if you joined.

The franchise model works best when the relationship between TC and its network is built on genuine trust. Five years of independent recognition suggests that relationship is holding.

Travel Counsellors will be hosting its annual conference in Manchester this autumn, where the award and the survey findings will be discussed in more detail. Recruitment is open across all routes, with the Leisure Academy and Corporate Academy intakes the most subscribed to date.