InteleTravel, a US-based travel booking company, works with PlanNet Marketing as its exclusive enrollment partner to recruit people as independent travel agents in the UK. The arrangement has drawn criticism from individuals who say they were unable to generate sufficient income from travel bookings after accounting for various fees and costs.
Seven people interviewed by the Guardian who were recruited as InteleTravel agents reported difficulty turning a profit. One agent, identified as Mark, paid approximately £150 to join InteleTravel plus £30-40 monthly for system access and training. After 18 months of work, he had completed only a handful of sales, earning roughly £700 in commission while paying recurring fees. He was subsequently encouraged to join PlanNet Marketing as a recruiter, shifting focus away from travel sales toward signing up new agents. Over two years with both services, Mark made three bookings generating about £1,000 in total commission while paying approximately £32 monthly in fees.
Another recruit, Shelley, a 52-year-old nurse from Suffolk, signed up in 2021 after seeing a Facebook advertisement. She reported that PlanNet recruiters emphasized earning potential and provided training support within the initial 30-day money-back guarantee period. However, once that guarantee expired, she received minimal ongoing assistance. After accounting for business cards, flyers, and website costs, her total profit over roughly two years was estimated between £500 and £1,000.
InteleTravel representatives stated that sign-up fees cover regulatory licensing, insurance, training, and booking system access required under UK travel regulations. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a first-year profit guarantee that refunds fee differences if earnings don’t meet costs, subject to specific conditions including completing one full year of active status and booking one hotel stay quarterly. PlanNet Marketing’s income disclosure statement indicates average annual earnings for representatives are approximately $40.
Some observers have suggested the business model resembles multi-level marketing, in which earnings derive primarily from recruitment rather than product sales. InteleTravel has denied this classification, describing PlanNet Marketing and itself as separate entities with enrollment through the partner company being optional. The arrangement has also attracted participation from social media influencers and celebrities, including former reality television personalities who promote the travel agent opportunity to their online audiences.
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