1. The post-pandemic holiday boom

The rapid rise of the homeworker has been one of the most significant trends to take hold in the travel industry for decades, according to travel industry insider, TTG Media.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents “confidence to travel across the UK population is up by 6 points compared with 2023”.

People are prepared to spend money on holidays: from once-in-a-lifetime bucket list trips to fly-and-flop packages, demand is up. If you need proof that the package holiday market continues to grow then the fact that three of the biggest UK holiday companies are all upping their capacities for 2025 is proof enough (in October, Jet2 announced its capacity would be about 6% higher in 2025).

2. Peaks 2025 is tipped to be the biggest yet

With soaring demand, you could grab one of the last few remaining places to train with The Travel Franchise before Christmas and launch your home-based travel business before the busiest time in travel – the January to March ‘Peaks’ period when agents typically book four times more holidays than any other time of the year. Many analysts predict Peaks 2025 will be the biggest one yet.

3. Travel agents are in demand

New research by ABTA reveals that more people are choosing to use travel agents and this research is backed up by Phocuswright which recently noted a growing trend for travel agents to open brick-and-mortar agencies. Recent news articles in the travel trade press including Breaking Travel News suggest that customers are tired of trawling, and agents do often have access to better deals.

4. Commissions and agent incentives are rising

ABTA’s report also revealed that 46% of travellers are expecting to spend more money on their holidays, which means bigger commission for agents. Not Just Travel (the customer-facing arm of The Travel Franchise) reports the average commission continues to rise – the award-winning company specialises in training people new to the industry and reports record bookings every month this year.

Some tour operators are also offering agents “commission uplifts” and tax-free benefits, including high street vouchers, designer clothes and the latest technology and gadgets.

5. Specialise in cruise and reap the rewards

Many savvy agents are becoming experts in niche travel products that attract high-paying repeat clients. These include areas such as cruising which typically offers commission of around 15-20 per cent. With around 19 ships currently being built, this is a fast growth sector to watch.

Not Just Travel launched a Cruise Division in 2022 and recruited experts who can train people new to travel to become a ‘cruise master’ in just a year, giving you the skills and credentials you need to succeed. Since then its cruise sales have tripled! One of its consultants made over £1 million-worth of sales booking hundreds of customers onto one single cruise in September 2024.

6. Travel perks including FAM trips

It’s no secret that travel agents get discounted holidays and educational trips (known as FAM or familiarisation trips) to learn about the places and products they’re selling.

Many travel suppliers are increasingly keen to host agents and boost business over the next year and give behind-the-scenes tours of new ships and hotels too.

Some companies like Not Just Travel host company events overseas for its consultants as well as unique money-can’t-buy mentorship retreats abroad which are free to franchisees who sign up on its Elite franchise package.

In September it arranged no less than five separate overseas trips taking nearly 200 franchisees overseas. Mauritius, Antigua, Barbados, Ibiza, Rome and Peru were on the menu.

In October, the company also sent 68 Elite agents to a Millionaire’s Retreat in sunny Crete with another planned to Florida shortly.