Travel Counsellors Ireland is celebrating after its top agents have increased their individual sales and earnings by up to 16% over the past 12 months.
Last month Travel Counsellors launched a major worldwide sales incentive, with over 1,100 agents participating to win by gaining the largest increase in their margin. Beating the UK, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and Canada, the Irish operation won the competition and boasted the biggest increase in their individual agent’s commissions, which averaged at an impressive 11.5%.
With over €800,000 in sales this year, Co Donegal-based Travel Counsellor Geraldine Martin has seen her earnings increase year-on-year since starting her own business as a Travel Counsellor in 2007. Moreover, Geraldine has increased her sales on last year by over €100,000, earning more than €50,000 per annum and far out-pacing her colleagues on the high street.
Geraldine told ITTN: “With over 21 years’ experience in the travel industry I have worked in a number of different roles, and until now I never realised it would be possible to earn more than €35,000 as a travel agent. I am now delighted to be earning more than I could ever have imagined, running my own business as a Travel Counsellor, and with the level of support provided by the team at head office I can honestly say I have never looked back. The last four years really have been the best in my career, and I am looking forward to even better things to come working as a Travel Counsellor.”
Travel Counsellors vows to provide its customers with the highest levels of personal travel service and because agents all run their own business from a home office this allows them to be available at a time to suit their customers. This unique level of customer service has enabled Travel Counsellors to buck the economic trend during what has been a difficult period for the travel industry.
The Irish operation includes six Gold Travel Counsellors, who each earn in excess of €45,000 per year and have collectively achieved over and above €5.5 million in sales during the past 12 months.
Travel Counsellors Ireland’s General Manager Cathy Burke said: “We are delighted that our agents have managed to achieve such fantastic individual sales during a troublesome year for the industry. Now we are present in six countries and our international booking system, Phenix, has enabled our agents to increase their earnings by setting their margin high, dynamically packaging to achieve the best results for their customers, and take advantage of the hundreds of direct contracts we have with accommodation providers across the world.
“I would like to thank each and every one of our individual Travel Counsellors for their contribution, and we at head office are dedicated in fully supporting each agent to provide the very best customer service, while they enjoy the flexibility and benefits of running their own travel business.”
During its last financial year, Travel Counsellors has achieved global sales of over €367 million, a 24% increase on the previous year, with a forecast turnover of €407 million for 2011. The company is also expecting to recruit more agents in Ireland over the next 12 months, as more of the country’s travel professionals look to increase their earning potential running their own business from home.
Congratulations to all the Travel Counsellors and head office staff in Ireland!