The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND) and UK-based Travel Counsellors have formed an equity partnership, effective immediately.
Calling the new development a “win-win-win for all concerned,” Flemming Friisdahl, TTAND CEO, is enthusiastic about working with Travel Counsellors. “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,” said Friisdahl.
Travel Counsellors is backed by Vitruvian and is the UK’s largest and fast-growing technology platform for travel entrepreneurs, connecting more than 2,200 independent business owners. It operates across six countries – the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates ---and employs more than 400 people in its UK headquarters and overseas offices.
“This partnership is built on shared values, mutual respect, and a belief that great things happen when good people work together. 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,” said Steve Byrne, CEO, Travel Counsellors.
In Canada, the company 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.There will be no changes for TTAND’s employees in Canada and India, nor for TTAND agent partners and TTAND suppliers, 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,” Friisdahl says. “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. The second reason is their commitment to being innovative and bringing the coolest and most effective technology tools to their partners.”
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