Co-Director, Southern Cross Travel, Wadhurst
The family business
In my opinion, the increase in home-working companies is a huge positive for our industry as surely it shows that the need for agents is stronger than ever?
It can only be a good thing for the number of agents to be growing as it shows a high demand for our services – and that’s great.
I also think it’s a good way for people to get into the industry without having huge overheads, while having a network to support them. I trained on the job, rather than studying first, and it’s a bit of a baptism of fire!
The only concern is the quality of new companies and the standard of service their home-workers are offering. I feel we have a battle on our hands already in terms of explaining our skills and worth, so if there is an influx of poor quality agents it does make it harder to explain our value.
Overall, I think there is room for everyone, so why not embrace it and welcome these new companies into our friendly industry?
Director of GoRiverCruise
Worcestershire
The cruise specialist
I should state that I started as a homeworker with no travel experience at the age of 56 nearly 20 years ago.
It would therefore be hypocritical to criticise new homeworking companies entering the industry, given the lack of regulatory obstacles.
Just as in any industry or organisation, there will be people who expect maximum reward for little effort, while there will always be many others who recognise that the real way to success is through hard work and effort; but even then a degree of lucky breaks may be necessary.
As an increasing number of suppliers look to capture business direct from the client, any increase in the number of agents should be welcomed, and especially so if the agents work in a professional way, see themselves as travel advisors and build a client base of repeat bookers. That applies whether they are working “from home” or from an office or high street.
Director at The Travel Team
Brampton, Cumbria
The high street agency
Laptops and technology have made working from home and working remotely from the office a very flexible way to run a business.
Although we have customers from a wide area I think in general they like to know we are a bricks and mortar business, so they trust it’s a “genuine company” and not just an advert that’s suddenly popped up on social media.
While some homeworking businesses have stood the test of time, there are new business models that sees someone with just a few weeks’ training set up and offer their services with very little travel knowledge and expertise. These types of businesses are no threat to what we offer.
Customers have choices when booking their holidays and who they book them through. With more people going away on more holidays, there is room for different agents offering different services to different customers.
Managing Director at Kew Bridge Travel
London
The PATA agent
The travel trade’s use of the word “homeworker” has long struck me as an incongruous description, especially now that many employees work from home.
Far more important is the person’s courage to start a business and the commitment to earn a living as a self-employed business owner.
These host companies provide opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to forge a career in travel.
Often these people have no chance of employment in the industry because recruiters insist on direct work experience rather than considering attitude and skills.
Independent contractors are largely dependent upon referrals and recommendations and are trading within a competitive environment, so the market will ensure that only honest, considerate and knowledgeable businesses survive.
We should welcome the opportunities and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit.
