Katie, from Kent, had worked for 24 years in corporate travel for an investment bank and loved it.
But as she needed more flexibility to be there for her children (aged 6 and 12), she invested in a homeworking travel franchise in 2020 when she was offered voluntary redundancy.
She says it was the best investment she’s made… why?
Because through hard work and training she took 85 holiday bookings in 2021 and in 2022 over 100. And she gets plenty of opportunities to travel with her new job, too.
Now she’s sold over £1.3 million-worth of holidays with bookings gathering pace due to a 64% repeat client rate and referrals from customers.
“One client with his own business bought four football Euro tickets with the trip costing around £25,000 then booked several company trips worth £30k in total.
Katie has seen a huge growth in group bookings and says many people like the fact that she spends time making sure rooms are next door to each other and taking detailed notes about dietary requirements.
She’s booked 20 people (costing £33k) to the Dominican Republic; two families on a £22k holiday to Cyprus; and £47k on a multi-centre holiday to the Galapagos and Turks & Caicos with a stopover in Miami.
But her favourite was creating a ÂŁ11,500 itinerary travelling around Australia for around six weeks for an octogenarian celebrating his birthday.
“He’s such an inspiration,” she says.
“I still get excited about putting people’s holidays together.”
And Katie loves the perks too… which includes free fam (familiarisation) trips abroad.
In 2022 she went on two agent fam trips: Cyprus with Classic Collection, and Punta Cana, Mexico, with RCD Hotels staying at the five-star Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
“It’s great to meet other consultants and so much easier to sell a product when you’ve been there.”
Sales alert… 10 nights’ all-inclusive from £2,529pp. Takers anyone?
Katie’s hard work is also gaining industry recognition. Last summer she was invited to the Peaks Performance Awards in London as a guest of Caesars Palace Bluewaters Island, Dubai, for being one of the top bookers for the middle east?
So is it all five-star trips, awards and short flexible hours?
“I sometimes work more than five days a week as you have to put hours in, but the flexibility means I can fit work around my children, one of which plays football, training and playing matches four times a week, while the other attends Performing Arts twice a week.”
“The job is what you make it. I love it.”
