The Travel Franchise (TTF) and its customer-facing brand Not Just Travel (NJT) have reported their strongest fourth quarter on record for recruitment in 2025, following growing consumer demand for travel consultants.
The homeworking travel specialist, which specialises in training people new to the travel industry, saw unprecedented levels of new enquiries along with existing agents resigning and upgrading their business through the company’s enhanced growth programme.
The record-breaking quarter comes against a backdrop of a strengthening travel market, with holiday sales performing strongly since Boxing Day and forward bookings already pointing to a bumper 2026.
The company says the surge reflects a wider shift in consumer behaviour, with more travellers choosing to book with travel agents for reassurance, expertise and value – a trend supported by recent ABTA research.
Co-founder Paul Harrison said the results highlight the growing appeal of travel franchising at a time when demand for expert-led personal travel planning is increasing.
“Consumers want trusted advice and personal service, and that’s creating a real opportunity for people looking to build a business in travel,” he said.
“The strength of recruitment and retention in the final quarter of 2025 shows just how attractive this business is both in terms of being lucrative and enjoyable.”
“When experienced consultants choose to re-sign with you, it demonstrates belief in the model and in the future of the travel market,” he added.
The business has seen a growing number of consultants invest in retail-style locations and staff, blending physical presence with flexible homeworking operations and capitalising on renewed consumer appetite for face-to-face travel advice.
To support continued growth, The Travel Franchise has invested heavily in tools and training, as well as onboarding support, to ensure new franchisees can enter the market quickly and confidently while benefiting from established systems and close relationships with some of the biggest brands in travel from household name TUI to luxury operator Audley.
Looking ahead, the company is forecasting 2026 to be its biggest year on record, driven by continued investment and strong consumer demand with several franchisees starting the year with big single bookings worth up to £161,000.
As part of its commitment to reducing barriers to entry, The Travel Franchise offers a franchise fee refund to new franchisees who join on its Elite package and achieve a set commission target in their first year.
The company confirmed that 2025 was a record year for the number of consultants achieving this milestone, further underlining the strength of current market conditions.
Harrison concluded: “The fact that more people than ever earned their franchise fee back in 2025 is a clear indicator of how strong the market is right now. It reinforces our belief that 2026 is the year to launch a travel business, with the right support, systems and consumer demand firmly in place.”