Top tips for starting a travel agency in Leeds

If you want to set up your own travel agency, Leeds is a great place to launch your new business if you choose to have a physical location.

With a bustling downtown that sees thousands of visitors each day, you’ll be able to benefit from foot traffic through your doors.

Want to start a travel agency in Leeds? Here are just ten top tips to get you started.

1) Find a venue

Finding a premise for your business is vital to ensure you maximize your traffic potential. You want to make sure the location you choose is easy for your customers to find.

If you’re looking for a location in Leeds to set up shop, consider checking out a platform like Move right. While you may have already used it to find your home, it’s also a great place to look for commercial properties.

2) Establish your niche

If you want to stand out from the competition, it’s important to define your niche.

Whether you want to specialize in luxury travel, adventure travel, corporate travel or culinary travel, establishing this early on can help you find new customers looking for a specific type of travel experience.

3) Develop a business plan

Regardless of your market, creating a comprehensive business plan that outlines your goals, marketing strategies, financial projections and procedures is essential to ensure you can monitor your success and stay on track.

Your business plan should be the tool you use to guide your business decisions and even attract potential investors if needed.

4) Ensure reliability

Making sure you’re a trusted brand is essential if you want to attract loyal customers who keep coming back for more.

For example, when booking a vacation, customers often look for guarantees like this ATOL protection before booking.

5) Build a reliable network of suppliers

Establish relationships with trusted suppliers such as airlines, hotels, cruise lines, car rental companies and tour operators.

Not only is this vital to providing your customers with high quality, but it can also help ensure you get great prices.

6) Take advantage of influencer marketing

Influencer marketing is becoming an increasingly popular way to get a brand name.

Collaborate with influencers and travel bloggers to promote your agency and destinations, with their help you can put your agency in front of thousands of potential customers.

7) Prioritize customer service

Focus on delivering great customer experiences.

Empower your staff to be knowledgeable, responsive and attentive to customer needs, because when your customers feel valued, they’re more likely to recommend you.