Homeworking giant secures “gateway” into US and Canadian markets as enlarged group targets £1.5bn in annual transactions
Travel Counsellors has taken a major step in its global expansion strategy after acquiring Canadian agency The Travel Agent Next Door (TTAND) for an undisclosed sum.
The UK-based homeworking group said the deal creates “a transatlantic leader” in the hosted-agent and homeworking sector, adding that it marks a “significant milestone” in its ambition to build a deeper footprint in North America.
TTAND, founded in 2014 and now considered Canada’s leading travel agent community, supports more than 1,700 independent travel professionals across the country. The business generates annual turnover of around CAD$500 million (£275 million).
The combined group will now comprise more than 3,900 independent agents operating across seven countries, including the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, the UAE and now Canada.
Travel Counsellors chief executive Steve Byrne said the acquisition provides “an important gateway… into the wider North American market, which represents a significant potential future growth opportunity”.
TTAND founder and chief executive Flemming Friisdahl will continue to lead the Canadian business, which will gradually migrate onto Travel Counsellors’ proprietary technology platform.
Byrne praised TTAND’s “strong entrepreneurial culture and leadership”, as well as its reputation for customer care. “Together, we will continue to build on the outstanding culture and essence of TTAND and drive further success,” he added.
He said both companies shared “a hunger to grow” and a commitment to “highly personal service… powered by continuous investment in market-leading technology”.
The acquisition follows record-breaking financials for Travel Counsellors. In the 12 months to 31 October, the company delivered £1.1 billion in total transaction value (TTV) and more than £40 million in EBITDA.
With TTAND onboard, the enlarged group expects to reach £1.5bn TTV and EBITDA of around £50m in the next year.
Friisdahl said partnering with Travel Counsellors was driven by shared values and a joint focus on innovation.
“I’ve always looked at Travel Counsellors as a leader in supporting travel professionals who work remotely and flexibly,” he said. “Their culture aligns with TTAND’s—focused on supporting our teams and our agent partners—and their investment in technology will be hugely valuable to our community.”
The acquisition is Travel Counsellors’ third in three years, following its 2023 purchase of Holidaysplease and its 2024 acquisition of tech platform Planisto.