Travel Counsellors CEO Steve Byrne has insisted there will be no immediate changes for the 100 Holidaysplease homeworkers and 50 franchisees after buying the business for an undisclosed sum.
Steve told Travel Gossip that Holidaysplease homeworkers and business owners operating under The Holiday Franchise Company brand will continue to be supported by their existing 50-strong head office team.
Similarly, there will be no immediate changes for the 1,900 Travel Counsellors.
“People in both businesses will carry on as they are,” said Steve. “We have only just announced this purchase, it’s only a day old, we need to take some time to understand the Holidaysplease business, and in time we will show their members the Travel Counsellors platform and how that can help them.”
Steve said he was particularly interested in Holidayplease regeneration model, which creates leads for homeworkers from its website, something that Travel Counsellors currently doesn’t offer.
He said it was also keen to understand the Holiday Franchise set up and see how this could be supported by Travel Counsellors and expanded.
“We are really excited by all aspects of the Holidaysplease business,” he added. “We have invested in the business for all of its elements and all that it offers.”
Some Holidaysplease members have posted online that they aren’t happy about the acquisition, having chosen to join HP instead of Travel Counsellors, but Steve said: “The businesses aren’t really that different.”
Differences between Travel Counsellors, Holidaysplease and The Holiday Franchise Company
Holidaysplease charges no subscription charges, The Holiday Franchise Company charge £155 after the first three months, while Travel Counsellors charges a monthly fee of £33 to £72.30, plus VAT.
However, homeworkers with Travel Counsellors keep 60% of the commission earned on every sale versus 25-50% (plus bonuses) at Holidaysplease. At The Holiday Franchise Company, agents get to keep 98% of their commission.
While Holidaysplease homeworkers receive half of their commission on booking and the remaining 50% on departure, The Holiday Franchise Company agents receive their commission when the full holiday payment is made and Travel Counsellors’ members receive the full amount six weeks before departure.
Holidaysplease only takes experienced agents, and it has a low joining fee of £387, but Travel Counsellors recruits both experienced and new-to-travel homeworkers. Its joining fees range from £295 for experience agents, rising to £995 for those who are returning to travel, and £10,000 for newbies. The Holiday Franchise Company members must have at least four years’ experience and they pay £4,500 to join (plus VAT).
Holidaysplease and The Holiday Franchise Company are members of ABTA, Travel Counsellors isn’t.
