The Travel Agent Next Door, UK-based Travel Counsellors form equity partnership

The Travel Agent Next Door and UK-based Travel Counsellors have entered into an equity partnership.

In making the announcement, The Travel Agent Next Door’s Founder and CEO, Flemming Friisdahl said: ““I have always looked at Travel Counsellors as a leader when it comes to travel professionals who run their businesses from home or office spaces, and I am very excited to be partnering with them for two very important reasons. Number one is the culture, it aligns very much with the TTAND culture, given it is all about our support team and our agent partners.”

And he continued: “The second reason is their commitment to being innovative and bringing the coolest and most effective technology tools to their partners.”

Vitruvian-backed Travel Counsellors is the UK’s largest and fast-growing technology platform for travel entrepreneurs that connects over 2,200 independent business owners, ultimately enabling them to deliver exceptional levels of customer service.

And Friisdahl pointed out that the two companies have a very similar culture and the same values, observing: “I’m confident this will be great for our agent partners and for our suppliers.”

Travel Counsellors operates across six countries – the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates — and employs over 400 people in its UK headquarters and overseas offices.

Friisdahl said that: “One of the many benefits to TTAND from this partnership will be that TTAND colleagues will have access to new expertise, shared learning, and, over time, the benefits of Travel Counsellors’ proprietary technology platform, Phenix — bringing future-ready tools that will help the TTAND team and agent partners grow with confidence and, with our supplier partners, offer unique itineraries in Canada.”

In Canada, The Travel Agent Next Door will continue to operate independently with Flemming Friisdahl, CEO and Founder — who is now an equity partner in the new partnership — and the TTAND executive team of Jeff Element COO, Chris Senior CFO, Raj Gautam, CIO, Rhonda Stanley, VP Talent Development, Christine Ufniak, Director of Marketing and Nicola Gowe, Director of Finance all remaining in place.

Friisdahl said that for the Travel Agent Next Door, this new venture will be a win for both TTAND and Travel Counsellors and that he is excited to bring Travel Counsellors tools to support TTAND agents’ customers in Canada.

Which, Friisdahl said makes “this truly a WIN-WIN-WIN for all concerned.”

Steve Byrne, CEO, Travel Counsellors, said: “This partnership is built on shared values, mutual respect, and a belief that great things happen when good people work together.”

Byrne continued: “It’s an exciting next step in our international growth story, but most importantly, it’s about people — growing together, with care at the heart of everything we do.”

The equity partnership is effective immediately.  There will be no changes for TTAND’s employees in Canada and India, nor for TTAND agent partners and TTAND suppliers, Friisdahl said.

In the photo

Seen here at TTAND’s offices are Steve Byrne, CEO, Travel Counsellors & Flemming Friisdahl, Founder & CEO, TTAND