Travel Counsellors expands into Middle East
Travel Counsellors has expanded into the United Arab Emirates after entering into partnership with Middle East-based dnata.
It is the sixth overseas destination for Travel Counsellors, which already operates in Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and Canada as well as the UK.
Managing director Steve Byrne said: "We felt this was the right time to take our expansion strategy to the next level and believe the market in the UAE is ideal for us – the economy is strong and it is strategically located to provide a springboard to expand across the Middle East, initially focusing on Dubai and Abu Dhabi."
The Dubai operation will be headed by Harvey Lines, formerly director of operations across the Middle East at corporate travel firm Wings Travel Management. He was also previously responsibility for British Airways’ commercial activities across the Middle East, Pakistan and Central Asia.
Travel Counsellors said he would be recruiting agents for the Dubai operation from both leisure and corporate travel backgrounds. "We expect to recruit our first agents in Dubai in April, with a view to having a further 20 by the end of the year," said Byrne.
Homeworkers in Dubai will have access to the company’s existing global travel deals and its new partnerships suppliers in the region, leveraged further by the partnership with dnata.
"For dnata, branching out into a relationship-based consultation service was a natural progression as we are constantly looking for ways to connect with the local market on a personal level," said dnata divisional vice president Iain Andrew.
Last year Travel Counsellors sales in its international division increased to £100m which accounted for nearly 30% of the company’s revenue for the year, with its overseas agents now accounting for 35% of its Travel Counsellors.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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