Reality TV star Katie Price has shut down the travel recruitment Instagram page she set up two weeks ago.
She set up the Katie Price Travels page to recruit agents for the Travel Smarter Group brand, run by her friend and fellow TV star Danielle Lloyd under InteleTravel.
Katie’s page attracted an agent backlash, sparked off by Inspire Europe CEO Lisa Henning, who said the recruitment ad was ‘a step too far’ and a ‘slap in the face for travel agents.’
Katie’s PA defended the move, telling Travel Gossip Katie wasn’t going to sell travel herself, but wanted to help others get into the business to make some extra money.
Several annoyed agents posted on Katie’s Instagram, including Travel Counsellor Travel With Martin, who said her recruitment campaign had ‘really wound me up’.
“You can’t do this as a side hustle, it just doesn’t work like that,” he said.
Another agent, using an account called Redtreerepresentation, said: “Surely if the last couple of weeks have taught us anything it is the value of booking with tour operators and travel agents. Over the last couple of weeks dedicated, well connected, knowledgeable TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS have worked round the clock to help clients affected by the conflict in the Middle East.
“It’s an insult to the professionalism of all in our industry that chancers like these two are promoting travel as a side hustle that anyone can do.
“Book with a REAL travel professional if you want REAL service and expertise not a C list celebrity.”
A Designer Travel agent posted: “Absolutely agree well said! It makes a mockery of our industry and those of us that consider travel as a career not a side hustle!”
Another Travel Counsellor, posting as Vikkiprescod, described the hard work she’d been putting in since the Middle East conflict started.
“I have cried many tears over my clients bookings (even this morning when I was anxious about whether a flight would be operating through the Middle East and my clients messaged me to say they were all checked in and good to go – such relief!) I track flights to make sure the connections are going as planned and when a crisis such as the recent Middle East air space closure affects my clients both in resort and those yet to travel, this becomes my priority.”
Following reports in the national newspapers that Katie has closed her travel recruitment page, Lisa Henning said she was ‘delighted to see that common sense has prevailed and that we’ve helped protect our industry from being diluted by those who simply don’t understand it’.
