By Bev Fearis, published 16/12/20

Blue Cube Travel has launched a new franchise venture allowing people to become independent consultants with its support.

Called Blue Cube Associates, the new arm of the TMC has been launched in a bid to retain some of the talent within the industry that might otherwise be lost due to the pandemic crisis.

“There is so much knowledge among business travel consultants, who have worked in the industry for years and through no fault of anyone’s find themselves out of work and potentially considering a career out of travel,” said Blue Cube Managing Director Bex Deadman, who has set up the new business with six colleagues, including Blue Cube co-founders Kenny Stirling and Mel Phaure.

“It is our firm belief that if we are going to restore trust and faith in our industry then the knowledge accumulated over time, sometimes decades, needs to be shared. We’re terrified that if something isn’t done, our industry will lose a lot of talent forever.”

At a launch webinar last week, attended by travel managers, travel consultants and IT professionals, Blue Cube directors explained that they had all started out as account managers and travel bookers and wanted to give others the chance to shape their own careers, especially those who have lost their jobs in recent months.

Associates will need to meet certain criteria to join and will pay a small monthly fee and share 25% of their turnover in return for the group’s centralised support.

Blue Cube Associates will provide GDS licences, Evolvi, IT, commercial and marketing support, help with responding to RFPs and other services, but will leave associates to decide what to charge their clients, which fee models to adopt and to follow their own sales leads.

A second webinar about the franchise opportunities will be held on January 14 2021.