Katie Price’s Travel Venture Shuts Down Amid Industry Backlash
Katie Price, the former glamour model and media personality, has reportedly pulled the plug on her new travel business venture, Katie Price Travels, a mere two weeks after its launch. The abrupt closure comes in the wake of significant criticism from seasoned professionals within the travel industry.
The venture, promoted through a dedicated Katie Price Travels Instagram page, aimed to recruit individuals to become independent travel agents with the homeworking agency InteleTravel. The advertising campaign featured Price alongside fellow TV personality Danielle Lloyd, who actively works as an independent travel agent for InteleTravel under the brand Travel Smarter Group.
An advert posted by the group proclaimed: “Join Katie Price and Danielle Lloyd. Hear how you can earn money from travel around your other commitments. Work flexibly. Travel more. Earn extra income.” However, this seemingly straightforward recruitment drive was met with a swift and strong backlash from those deeply entrenched in the travel sector.
Industry Professionals Voice Concerns
Lisa Henning, the chief executive of Inspire Europe, was among the first to publicly criticise the campaign. She highlighted the immense challenges the industry has been navigating, particularly in light of recent global events such as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has significantly disrupted travel to popular destinations like Dubai.
Henning expressed her dismay, stating that while she rarely comments on recruitment adverts, this particular promotion crossed a line. She detailed the relentless efforts of her team and other travel professionals over the preceding twelve days, working around the clock to support clients and manage disruptions.
“I’ve watched our teams go above and beyond to get people home safely,” Henning wrote. “I’ve seen agents working ridiculous hours for their customers, losing the commission they had earned because trips had to be cancelled or rearranged, and still showing up because that’s what real travel professionals do. I’ve seen agents in tears because they care so much about their clients and are genuinely worried about what’s happening. I have spoken to clients who have been in tears… desperate to get home.”
She argued that seeing promotions suggesting one could simply “earn money from travel” with a glossy campaign, positioning the role of a travel agent as a casual pursuit alongside other commitments, felt like a “huge mockery” of the profession. Henning emphatically stated, “This isn’t a side hustle. This isn’t a gimmick. And it certainly isn’t ‘easy money while you travel’.”
Defence and Counterarguments
In response to the criticism, Katie Price’s personal assistant reportedly issued a statement to Travel Gossip. The PA clarified that Price was not personally booking travel but was sharing a platform to help individuals become independent travel agents and generate additional income, whether full-time or part-time.
The statement emphasised that all agents within the community receive comprehensive training and are dedicated to supporting their clients. It highlighted that many join the business seeking better financial opportunities for themselves and their families, working diligently to achieve this. The PA expressed disappointment at efforts to undermine this hard work, noting that, like any travel professional, agents can encounter situations beyond their control, such as airline cancellations. It was reiterated that Price was merely advertising an “opportunity call.”
The representative further stressed the importance of remembering that the individuals involved are real people with real livelihoods, and inaccurate stories can negatively impact those who have invested significant effort into building their businesses.
The Professional Perspective
The sentiment expressed by industry veterans like Lisa Henning was echoed by many others. Nicola Dack, a seasoned travel counsellor with 29 years of experience, took to social media to warn consumers.
“Please be careful who you trust with your holidays and your hard-earned money,” Dack urged. “Travel is not a ‘side hustle’, it is a profession. It is being there 24/7 when the unexpected happens. I have spent 29 years in travel, working full time to support my clients through constant changes, flight disruptions, airline issues and global uncertainty. That level of care and knowledge cannot be squeezed into a one-day online course or a few hours of your time a day… Anyone can sell you a holiday. Not everyone can look after you properly when it really matters.”
Francesca Barone, owner of Elite Cruises, while stating she had “nothing against either of these women per-se,” firmly asserted that “Pop up TAs shouldn’t be taken seriously.” She reiterated that there is no such thing as easy money in the travel business, describing it as a passion requiring “true grit and a determination to succeed come what may and to offer our clients the best possible service in what are sometimes the most challenging of circumstances.”
Another industry professional, operating as @personal_travel_angel, shared their perspective after observing similar adverts. Having dedicated their life to the travel industry since 1994, they found the notion of becoming a travel agent as a “quick side hustle” deeply problematic and a “massive disservice to the profession.”
They explained that being a travel agent involves far more than just booking flights or hotels. Their extensive experience has involved navigating global crises, complex consumer protection laws (such as ATOL/ABTA/Package Travel Regulations), intricate airline ticketing, and building robust supplier relationships – aspects they believe a “hobbyist” simply wouldn’t possess.
The Daily Mail reported that they had contacted Katie Price’s representative for comment, while Danielle Lloyd declined to comment at the time of publication. The rapid dissolution of Katie Price Travels underscores the deep respect and professionalism demanded by the travel industry, a sector that relies heavily on expertise, dedication, and unwavering client support, especially during turbulent times.
