Meet Ari Levy, aged 29, who lives in Manchester. Ari previously worked as a sound technician with The Blue Man Group before the pandemic changed everything. The Blue Man Group is a performance company that takes audiences on a spectacular journey bursting with music and laughter.
Ari is one of five. Currently living with his family and grandparents he loves to travel the world, hence a life of touring, where he would often be away for 2/3rds of the year.
He used to help his tour family book holidays as a favour, the only difference now is that he gets paid for it.
What were your first few bookings like and who was it for?
My very first booking was for a family friend to Camber Sands in East Sussex. My second booking was for a friend of mine who is looking to go away over Christmas, I booked them a mini-break for 4 nights in Devon.
These bookings were in my first week of business!
Why did you decide to start your own travel business?
I’d been booking holidays for people long before I joined, trained, and became a certified Personal Travel Consultant. The difference now is that I run an official travel business and actually get paid for my time.
Whenever we had a short break on tour I would help my tour family find hotels nearby or help book them a flight to get-away for some much-needed downtime.
The bookings that came in when on tour I wasn’t able to benefit from. I wasn’t charging for helping people find a great deal online, I was just doing it for the love of it.
One of the areas I became known for over the years was helping people to improve their status with British Airways. If someone wanted to become a Gold level passenger I would share my tips with them.
What made you choose The Travel Franchise in the end?
I’d been following the Travel Franchise for quite a while, I’d been getting the updates for a couple of years before deciding to join. The pandemic brought me to make a decision.
Before the pandemic hit I didn’t have the time to do the 5-day training or run my own business, as I was always touring with the performance group. I’d usually be on tour for 2/3rds of the year.
I knew there was a gap in the market which I was ready to move on. I had built up connections within the entertainment sector for years across theatre, live, and corporate event companies.
I want to be ready to help these touring and production companies with their travel, once it all starts up again. Partners in Travel is a great way to start conversations with businesses.
