When you invest in a travel franchise and launch your business, you’ll be given a dedicated Business Development Manager (BDM) — someone who will mentor you, guide you and help you grow your business from day one.
But your BDM isn’t the only one on your side.
Behind the scenes is the biggest team in the entire company — our 35-strong award-winning Operations Team with over 1,000 years of travel experience – one of the most powerful assets you’ll have as a travel consultant, particularly if you’re new to travel.
Heading up the ‘Ops Team’, and with over 30 years in the travel industry, is Laura – who knows a thing or two about what it takes to run a thriving travel business.
She’s spent her career working resorts overseas, as well as behind the scenes in head offices, and she and her team are dedicated to one thing: helping franchisees like you succeed.
“I’ve been with Not Just Travel (the customer facing arm of The Travel Franchise) for four years now and I’m proud to lead a team that supports over 700 travel consultants every day.”
Laura’s team of 35 brings over 1,000 years of combined experience to the table – a wealth of expertise ready to support you at every step.
“When you first join, it can feel daunting but our team will hold your hand. No question is a silly question. Even consultants who’ve been with us for years forget things — and we’re always here to help.”
And if you’re worried about long hold times or robotic customer service, you can put those fears to rest.
“Call wait times are brilliant – in fact, we have award-winning wait times. You’ll never wait more than 30 seconds to speak to a real person. No chatbots. Ever.”
That’s just one of the reasons consultants consistently praise the operations team — they’re fast, friendly, and fiercely dedicated.
“We won’t be faceless voices. We join coffee mornings, attend conferences, go live on Facebook and host ‘get to know you’ sessions. A lot of consultants become good friends. We know them personally. We’re always on your side, backing your business and helping you deliver the best for your customers.”
No two days are the same in the world of travel — and Laura wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Every day brings new questions, new challenges and that’s part of the fun of working in this industry. Everyone works so well together and the support – whether you’re an employee or a consultant – is the best thing about this business.”
Laura’s 35-strong team is divided into specialised areas, covering every step of the booking process:
- Support Team
Always available via phone, live chat, and email to answer queries — big or small. - Post-Booking Team
Checks all bookings, verifies supplier details, sends accurate invoices, and handles amendments and changes. - Balances & Accounts Team
Ensures customer balances are paid on time and handles any financial follow-ups. - Pre-Travel Team
Audits each booking before departure, checks for schedule changes or supplier updates, and makes sure tickets and vouchers reach clients well in advance.
As co-founder Steve Witt says: “This team will be one of your strongest assets if you join. There’s literally no other travel franchise or business that supports their consultants as much as we do. If you had to do the admin that this team does for you, you could spend up to 75% of your time on it. That’s time away from growing your business, finding customers and earning more money. With us, you get to focus on what you do best — building relationships, making bookings, and watching your business grow.”
