Information Technology
Travel Counsellors expands into North America with acquisition of The Travel Agent Next Door, Canada's leading travel agent community
Travel Counsellors powers a thriving and growing community of more than 2,200 independent travel entrepreneurs with its scalable technology platform, which is supported by continuous investment of approaching £20m per annum. This ongoing technology investment included the recent launch of , the Company's propriety, data-driven AI agent designed to enhance productivity for each of the travel entrepreneurs and business owners in its network, thereby enabling them to deliver customers with the best combination of tech and human touch and providing customers with peace of mind, assurance, personalised advice and tailored travel.
Operating a similar business model and customer-centric ethos to Travel Counsellors, TTAND is Canada's leading travel agent community which supports more than 1,700 independent travel professionals. The business generates annual turnover of approximately CAD$500m . Founded in 2014 by Flemming Friisdahl , TTAND'S CEO, and two other seasoned travel entrepreneurs on a culture of care and entrepreneurial spirit, TTAND has built its enviable reputation on empowering agents to succeed while delivering outstanding service to their customers. TTAND has scaled rapidly over the past decade to become the clear leader in providing personalised, premium leisure travel advice in Canada , one of the largest outbound travel markets in the world.
The acquisition will enable both businesses to benefit from: superior scale with over 3,900 professional travel business owners in the enlarged Group; a more diversified international profile with exceptionally strong brands in both the UK and Canada ; and cross-company knowledge sharing, with Flemming Friisdahl continuing to lead the TTAND operation as CEO. Additionally, over time TTAND's 1,700-strong and fast-growing travel agent community will benefit from migration to Travel Counsellors bespoke technology platform.
The combination with TTAND accelerates the Company's international growth strategy, with operations now in seven international markets. It marks Travel Counsellors' third acquisition in the past three years, following the successful deals to acquire award-winning UK premium leisure travel company Holidaysplease in March 2023 and the Planisto technology platform in January 2024 . The acquisition comes soon after Travel Counsellors' record-breaking 2024/25 financial year. In the 12 months to 31 October 2025 , Travel Counsellors achieved total transaction value (" ") of £1.1bn and EBITDA of over £40m, which represents a doubling since the Covid-19 pandemic and compound average EBITDA growth of nearly 15% per annum over the last three years. As a result of the acquisition, the enlarged Group is expected to achieve TTV of £1.5bn and EBITDA of £50m in the next 12 months.
The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Travel Counsellors was advised on the Acquisition by Harris Williams , Mayer Brown, FTI Consulting, PWC, McCarthy Tétrault, Gowling WLG, Broadway Insurance Partners, CG Consultancy and Travel Trade Consultancy. TTAND was advised by Optimus SBR and WeirFoulds LLP.
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