The Travel Agent Next Door has entered into an equity partnership with UK-based Travel Counsellors, effective December 3, 2025.

Travel Counsellors is billed as the UK’s largest and fast-growing technology platform for travel entrepreneurs, connecting over 2,200 independent business owners. Vitruvian Partners acquired Travel Counsellors in 2018.

“Truly A Win – Win – Win For All Concerned ”

This is a return of sorts for Travel Counsellors in Canada.

The host agency opened a Toronto office in 2008, and courted Canadian home-based agents until it closed the office in 2015.

TTANDʻs CEO, Flemming Friisdahl, said: “I have always looked at Travel Counsellors as a leader when it comes to travel professionals who run their businesses from home or office spaces, and I am very excited to be partnering with them for two very important reasons. Number one is the culture, it aligns very much with the TTAND culture, given it is all about our support team and our agent partners.”

“The second reason is their commitment to being innovative and bringing the coolest and most effective technology tools to their partners.”

Friisdahl said the two companies have a very similar culture and the same values.

“I’m confident this will be great for our agent partners and for our suppliers,” he said.

Travel Counsellors operates across six countries – the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, and the UAE – and employs 400+ people in its UK headquarters and overseas offices.

“One of the many benefits to TTAND from this partnership will be that TTAND colleagues will have access to new expertise, shared learning and, over time, the benefits of Travel Counsellors’ proprietary technology platform, Phenix — bringing future-ready tools that will help the TTAND team and agent partners grow with confidence and, with our supplier partners, offer unique itineraries in Canada,” said Friisdahl.

In Canada, the company will continue to operate independently with Flemming Friisdahl, CEO and founder – who is now an equity partner in the new partnership –  and the TTAND executive team of Jeff Element COO, Chris Senior CFO, Raj Gautam, CIO, Rhonda Stanley, VP Talent Development, Christine Ufniak, Director of Marketing and Nicola Gowe, Director of Finance all remaining in place.

Friisdahl said that for the Travel Agent Next Door, this new venture will be a win for both TTAND and Travel Counsellors and that he is excited to bring Travel Counsellors tools to support TTAND agents’ customers in Canada. “Making this truly a WIN – WIN – WIN for all concerned!”

“This partnership is built on shared values, mutual respect, and a belief that great things happen when good people work together. It’s an exciting next step in our international growth story, but most importantly, it’s about people — growing together, with care at the heart of everything we do,” said Steve Byrne, CEO, Travel Counsellors.

The equity partnership is effective immediately. There will be no changes for TTAND’s employees in Canada and India, nor for TTAND agent partners and TTAND suppliers, said Friisdahl.

Source: Travelweek