Travel Leaders is tripling its sales force to nine people in preparation for a blitz designed to convert agencies to the brand.
It also has introduced a team of Regional Franchise Consultants, created to help franchise owners increase sales, increase revenue and improve efficiency.
"Agencies are once again looking to the future, as opposed to 12 months ago," said Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group. "And when we were carved out of Carlson Wagonlit in 2008, no one really knew who we were. But now we have a story we can tell."
The sales force will be holding 90-minute seminars, and interested agencies can follow this up with daylong meetings at the company's headquarters in Minneapolis.
"Agencies need to know who we’re aligned with," Block said. "We’d welcome them to compare our overrides and support systems."
Block said they are looking for agencies that have "a track record" rather than startups, and will be selective. "If an agency has service issues, that will impact all our agencies."
The RFC program is essentially an expansion in the services provided by Travel Leaders’ business development managers.
"We now will have one RFC for every 43 agencies," Block said.
Two of the RFCs, he said, will be dedicated to helping corporate agencies increase sales. Additionally, the heads of each of Travel Leaders’ six U.S. regions are required to analyze each associate’s business and recommend the most appropriate Travel Leaders programs, products and services to increase revenue and efficiency.
Travel Leaders said that RFCs will consult franchisees through "systematic, yet highly personalized office visits."
In addition to advising franchisees about making the most of Travel Leaders' offerings, RFCs are providing guidance and support for agencies looking to grow through acquisition.