InteleTravel agents have added their voice to the outcry over reality star Katie Price’s recruitment advert last week, which encouraged people to sign up and make ‘easy money’ while they travel.
Katie has teamed up with TV personality and Intele agent Danielle Lloyd to recruit people to join InteleTravel under their brand name Travel Smarter Group.
Katie ran an ad on her Instagram last week, which enraged Inspire Europe CEO Lisa Henning, who said the advert was ‘a step too far’ and a ‘slap in the face for travel agents’, particularly as agents have been working ‘non-stop, 24/7’ to support clients currently affected by the disruption caused by the US/Israeli-Iran war.
Lisa said selling travel isn’t a ‘side hustle’ or ‘a gimmick’ or ‘easy money while you travel’ – and dozens of agents posted to say they supported Lisa’s stance.
Several Intele agents commented on a post on Travel Gossip’s Facebook group, saying they were also unhappy about Katie’s post.
One agent, who has been with InteleTravel for more than six years, said: “It’s embarrassing that this kind of social media content continues to be promoted as it devalues the integrity of other agents and the company of InteleTravel, who work very hard.
“I am very tired of seeing celebrities using this business for endorsement so they use their status for people to work with them and build teams and earn from it too.”
InteleTravel agent Lisa Bain posted to say: “As someone who does this part-time and books two to three holidays on a good month, I absolutely take my hat off to you all full-time travel warriors, especially right now.
“We’re not all building teams and on a hustle. Some of us genuinely love this industry and helping people experience their dream holidays. I do think it can be easy to forget this when we see the extreme versions of things, ie, when celebs jump on a bandwagon as a way of boosting their own income.”
Alison, another InteleTravel agent, who asked not to reveal her full name, said: “I’m Intele (travel side only!) and I would rather they stayed well away from us. They are definitely not in it for the travel side of the business.”
Last week, Katie’s PA said Katie ‘was simply advertising an opportunity call’ and was ‘simply sharing this platform with others to help people become independent travel agents and create an additional income – whether that be part-time or full-time’. She added: “Katie has never stated that she personally books travel.”
InteleTravel declined to comment.
