US TMC looks for major UK expansion through homeworking
US business travel agency Tzell Travel Group is promising to shake up the UK corporate market after opening its first international office in London this week.
The company, which claims to be the fourth-largest TMC in the US, plans to grow in the UK by recruiting homeworkers and independent agencies as affiliates under the Tzell brand.
Businesses and individuals that become Tzell ‘offices’ do not pay a fee, but instead enter in to a commission-sharing deal.
In return they receive the computer hardware needed to access the Tzell booking system, allowing them access to the company’s impressive corporate rates.
Tzell’s UK operation is being run by Barry Whittaker, a former board director at Abercrombie & Kent, from offices in Kingsway, Holborn.
“The growth of homeworking in the leisure sector demonstrates that there are many independent-minded agents out there who are entrepreneurial and want to take charge of their destiny. This is the first real opportunity for good business travel consultants to strike out on the own,†explained Whittaker.
“They will effectively be running their own businesses, as sole traders or limited companies, but with the full resource of the Tzell Travel Group supporting them.â€
Whittaker added that existing independent business travel agencies can also sign up to ‘overbrand’ as a Tzell office.
He is looking to create a network of agents across the UK, and potentially Europe.
“Members are required to hit minimum sales targets but are free to operate out of home offices or business premises.
“We provide the hardware and IT support they need and they are backed by our considerable market strength. The whole set-up process will be very quick and very simple,†added Whittaker.
Tzell UK specialises in medical repatriation for insurance companies, travel management for several corporations including financial institutions and arranging travel and VIP concierge services for film, tv, music and fashion industries.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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