It’s time to get into the travel industry
For the past eighteen months, the travel industry has taken a huge hit. Lockdowns, closed borders and government decisions have impacted people’s ability to travel. However, the situation is slowly improving. Vaccines are rolling out, and countries are starting to reopen for visitors.
Shortly, consumers will look to book travel again. With many travel agents closing down or going out of business in the past year, now is the perfect time to start your own business in this sector.
Why the travel industry?
Brits love to travel. Before the pandemic, this leisure activity was one of the most popular. In 2019, more than £62 million got spent on overseas travel (ONS). Wouldn’t you like to have a share of that spending?
Airlines, hotels, tour operators and cruise lines all want a part of this business. With an overload of information available online, it can be very confusing for a would-be traveller to know which one to choose. That’s where you come in. From knowledge, research and personal experiences, you can guide the traveller to make the best decision for their needs.
How to get started
There are two ways you can open your own travel business. You could go it alone, open a shop, apply for the necessary licences and registrations and start from scratch. This is a time-consuming option, though, and it may be a long time before you see yourself break even.
The alternate, and much savvier choice, is to become a franchisee of an existing brand. The beauty here is that the groundwork has been done for you. All you need is a computer and a phone, and you can start operating. You’re still your own boss so you can work as much or as little as you want.
No experience necessary
The other advantage of opening a travel franchise is that you don’t need experience or qualifications in travel. The best franchisers offer extensive training and then ongoing 24/7 support. Remember, it’s in their best interest for you to succeed too.
A passion for travel, ideally with some destination knowledge, is all you need. The rest can be learned. Naturally, if you have sales or customer service experience that’ll help you improve your income from day one.
Current travel franchises available
There are so many travel-related franchise opportunities available, it can be overwhelming. Franchise UK makes this easier by recommending some top choices.
The Travel Franchise
If you’re ready to operate your own travel agency from the comfort of your home, then this is the one for you. With over 700 franchisees across the UK and backed by one of the industry’s biggest names, Hays Travel Group, you’re in good company with these guys.
They’ve won Homeworking Agency of the Year for the last four years. All training is provided, as is the back-office processing, leaving you free to do what your clients need you to do – book travel. All franchisees get an overseas educational trip; this allows you to sell a destination from first-hand knowledge.
Go along to one of their Discovery Days to find out how it all works and see if it’s the best fit for you.
GoCruise & Travel
Similar to the Travel Franchise, GoCruise will set you up as a home-based business. They are part of the hugely successful Fred Olsen travel group which has 17 years of experience. They’ve negotiated contracts with over 300 operators. That gives you a whole world of choice for your clients.
The difference with GoCruise is that they’ll set you up with your own territory. An instant client base to get you started. The team can also point you in the right direction if you have a preferred niche market in mind. Cruising, weddings and honeymoons or luxury travel are all huge sectors in the industry.
easyHotel Franchise
If becoming a home-based travel agent isn’t quite what you had in mind, how about running your own hotel? The premise is simple. Either build your own or convert an existing hotel, apartment block or office building into an easyHotel branded site.
Once it’s built or converted, you’re ready to open it and manage the day to day running. They’ll be with you every step of the way from the moment you choose the lot to your grand opening and beyond. Your property will appear on the easyHotel website for ease of booking.
Unlike home-based businesses, this one will require an initial investment of a significant amount of capital. This is definitely a franchise opportunity for the long term.
Travel is coming back
It won’t be long before travel once again becomes the favourite pastime for many of us. Now is the ideal time to set up your travel-related business, so you’re ready to meet the demand of clients prepared to book and pay. Speak to Franchise UK today, so you don’t miss out.
To browse all travel franchises available, take a look around our franchise directory.