Chase your dreams with franchising in travel sector

With passing time, number of people turning into entrepreneurs has risen tremendously. Who doesn’t want to have a business and be his own boss? Franchising is proving to be an effective way to start any business without prior experience in the field. Brands across sectors including travel space are offering lucrative opportunities to people and supporting them to start their businesses. We tell you why you should be a franchisee in the travel sector. Read on..

Under the travel space, bigger names like Makemytrip, Thomas Cook, Yatra etc have supported franchise model and grown enormously. Indian Tourism sector is bound to grow faster each day. Opportunities for all those who have taken franchise rights of travel brands in India or who are planning to start a new business in the travel space are sure to succeed because of the changes in the industry and the numerous new players coming in. The new technology has also taken the travel sector leaps ahead. Travkart, a technology backed company offering both online and offline holiday solutions specialises in fixed departures and curated itineraries by Holidays by Sahibji Pvt. Ltd. Incorporated jointly by Manheer Singh Sethi and Gursahib Singh Sethi. On being asked, how  Travkart has encouraged young aspiring entrepreneurs to get into the franchise business, Manheer Singh Sethi, Co- founder, Travkart.com says: ‘For young entrepreneurs looking to operate their own businesses in the travel domain, opting for a franchise from an established player is a significantly safer option than launching their own start-ups. Franchisees additionally have better opportunities to grow and scale their operations, and also have access to a significantly larger business and operational support network. With its industry leadership position and a proven record of success in the travel sector, the Travkart franchise solution provides franchisees an opportunity to keep up with the industry trends and capitalise on the growing market demand by associating with a 24-year old, IATA-recognised organisation.’

Few tips to start off a travel brand franchise

• All you need is to be well acquainted with the travel industry and its different aspects.
• Decide where and how you want to start a franchise for any travel brand.
• Every franchisor offers different benefits and has different norms too. Different franchisors offer different types of support.
• Always analyze the location before starting to operate. Location you choose should be highly visible and at a niche area.

As per WTTC report, by year 2020 Indian tourism would contribute 200 Billion USD to the GDP. So, with the advent of online players this industry is set to grow at much faster rate. Players like Thomas Cook and Makemytrip always look out for qualified and hard working franchise partners who can contribute and be a part of their success journey. Makemytrip actively seeks partnership of enterprising individuals who are passionate about the travel industry. The franchisee appointment will be selectively granted to prospects that demonstrate not only adequate business acumen, but also an impressive business track record, exceptional leadership traits, proven management capabilities and an ability to adapt to a constantly changing and evolving travel industry.

Seeing franchising as an excellent opportunity in the travel sector, Manheer singh sethi concludes: ‘Given the rate at which the Indian travel and hospitality industry is booming many ambitious professionals are taking to launching their own businesses to capitalise on the massive growth potential. While many start-ups are being launched on a daily basis, several astute entrepreneurs are also opting for the franchise model, which offers the best rates, profit margins, and travel packages. It is not as risky as launching a start-up and gives budding entrepreneurs an excellent chance to establish themselves in the travel domain.’

What to take care of

• Decide which services you want to offer to your clients. Know your specialities like family travel, senior travel, corporate trips etc.
• Lease a space for your travel agency or work from home. Choose a space with enough parking area.
• Make a great website that has all details about your business. Try and include testimonials of satisfied clients too.
• Prepare for marketing. Get your brochures and business cards printed.