The world’s best lifestyle franchise has taken a group of its Elite franchise owners to Mauritius for a week of in-person coaching, resort tours and business planning, all fully funded as part of the Elite package, in a demonstration of the level of investment that sets the business apart in the franchise sector.
The Travel Franchise, the UK’s number one travel franchise for people new to the industry and the business behind consumer brand Not Just Travel, has flown a group of its Elite franchise owners to Mauritius for its latest Elite Experience, a fully funded overseas training retreat included as standard in the Elite package.
The retreat combines intensive in-person business training with first-hand experience of world-class resorts, in this case the Beachcomber collection. Led by the company’s head of sales and training Dave Pope, alongside senior travel experts, consultants spent the week in one-to-one coaching and business planning sessions, while also touring hotels, experiencing the food and facilities and building the kind of destination knowledge that can only come from being somewhere in person.
“There is a certain kind of knowledge and confidence that only comes from being somewhere, seeing it and living it. When you have walked the resort, eaten in the restaurants and seen the rooms, you sell it with a conviction no brochure can match, and clients feel that difference immediately.”
Investment that defines the franchise
Every Elite franchisee is invited on two fully funded overseas retreats as part of their journey with the company. The first, the Millionaire’s Retreat, helps new consultants establish strong foundations. The Elite Experience is designed for established consultants ready to take their businesses further, with recent retreats held in destinations including Mauritius, Japan, Dubai, Mexico and Florida.
For prospective franchisees weighing up their options, this level of ongoing investment is one of the clearest points of difference in the sector. Rather than providing initial training and stepping back, The Travel Franchise continues to develop its consultants throughout their journey, through overseas retreats, ongoing coaching, online training and a dedicated Business Consultant for every franchisee.
“We genuinely care about the success of our franchisees, and we continuously invest in training and experiences to help them grow their businesses. Flying our consultants to Mauritius, putting them in world-class resorts and coaching them in person sends them home more confident, more capable and more connected than when they arrived.” – The Travel Franchise
Real results for the consultants involved
Consultants who attended the retreat reported a marked increase in confidence and capability. One described how, having previously been unsure about actively promoting a destination he had never visited, he returned able to answer client questions with genuine authority, even sending personal room-tour videos to a live enquiry during the week. Another, who had found business planning overwhelming, said the focused coaching finally gave her clarity and direction.
The retreat also reinforced the collaborative culture the company is known for. Consultants at different stages of their journeys learned as much from one another as from the formal training, with many leaving with accountability partners and lasting professional friendships.
A business performing at the top of its sector
The retreat comes during a period of significant recognition for the business. The Travel Franchise has been named Best Lifestyle Franchise in the World for two consecutive years at the Global Franchise Awards, and Best Franchise in Europe. Its co-founders were recently awarded the John Hays Entrepreneur Award at the TTG Travel Industry Awards, where two of its consultants also won major titles, and the company was named Top Extra Large Homeworking Agency at the Jet2holidays Non-Retail Summit.
Notably, 98 per cent of the company’s consultants joined with no travel industry background at all, and many are now winning national industry awards, a reflection of the training and support structure that helps complete newcomers build successful businesses.
About The Travel Franchise
The Travel Franchise is the UK’s number one travel franchise for people new to the travel industry, operating under the consumer-facing brand Not Just Travel. Founded in 2001, it has helped hundreds of people build successful home-based travel businesses, with 98 per cent joining with no prior travel experience. Franchisees receive comprehensive training, a dedicated Business Consultant, access to more than 450 suppliers and the buying power of the Hays Travel Independence Group, plus two fully funded overseas mentorship retreats and the unique Money-Back Challenge on the Elite package. The Lite Mentorship Programme offers a more accessible route in, available from a deposit of £995.
The company was voted Best Lifestyle Franchise in the World at the Global Franchise Awards in both 2025 and 2026, and has been named Britain’s Best Home-Based Franchise and Best European Franchise. Its celebrity brand ambassadors include TV broadcaster Eamonn Holmes OBE and double Olympic champion Daley Thompson CBE.