Katie Price's Travel Venture Collapses Amid Industry Fury
Reality television personality Katie Price has reportedly shut down her travel business venture just two weeks after its controversial launch, following intense backlash from travel industry executives. The 47-year-old former glamour model had created a Katie Price Travels Instagram page where she and fellow TV personality Danielle Lloyd, 42, attempted to recruit agents for InteleTravel under the brand Travel Smarter Group.
Swift Launch and Swift Closure
Last Thursday, Katie Price posted an advertisement promoting an agent recruitment session alongside Danielle Lloyd. The advert read: '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, amid mounting criticism from industry figures, it now appears the travel account has been completely deleted. The Daily Mail has contacted Katie Price's representative for comment regarding the sudden closure.
Industry Executives Express Outrage
The promotional post was met with immediate and significant criticism from travel industry professionals. Notably, Inspire Europe chief executive Lisa Henning criticised the advertisement, particularly following the difficulties faced by the industry amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. She wrote in Travel Weekly: 'I very rarely comment publicly on things like adverts being posted about agent recruitment. But seeing Katie Price advertising an event to attract part-time agents this week was a step too far.'
Henning continued: 'For the past 12 days I have worked non-stop, 24/7, supporting our clients and our agents through the disruption affecting Dubai and other destinations. I've watched our teams go above and beyond to get people home safely. 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.'
The industry executive added: 'So to then see promotions suggesting that you can simply 'earn money from travel' with a glossy campaign featuring Katie Price and Danielle Lloyd - positioning the role of a travel agent as something you do casually around other commitments – honestly feels like a huge mockery of our industry. This isn't a side hustle. This isn't a gimmick. And it certainly isn't 'easy money while you travel'.'
Defence from Katie Price's Team
Katie Price's personal assistant responded to the criticism, telling Travel Gossip: 'Katie has never stated that she personally books travel. She is 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. All agents within the community receive full training and are committed to supporting their clients.'
The PA continued: 'Many people join this business to build better financial opportunities for themselves and their families, and they work incredibly hard to do so. It's disappointing when people try to undermine that effort. Like any travel professional, agents can experience situations such as airline cancellations or changes, which are unfortunately outside of their control.'
She concluded: 'Katie was simply advertising an opportunity call. It's important to remember that the people involved in this business are real individuals with real livelihoods. When inaccurate stories or false accusations are written, it doesn't just affect one person – it can impact the many people who have worked hard to build their businesses.'
Widespread Industry Criticism
The backlash extended beyond Lisa Henning, with numerous other travel professionals expressing their disapproval. Travel counsellor Nicola Dack wrote on social media: 'Please be careful who you trust with your holidays and your hard-earned money. Travel is not a 'side hustle', it is a profession. It is been there 24/7 when the unexpected happens.'
Dack added: '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, said she had 'nothing against either of these women per-se' but added: 'Pop up TAs shouldn't be taken seriously. There is no such thing as easy money in this business – it's a passion and requires 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, @personal_travel_angel, commented: 'I've been seeing adverts like this one lately, and to be honest, as someone who has dedicated my life to the travel industry, starting in 1994, it's a little hard to swallow. The idea that you can just "sign up" and become a travel agent as a quick side hustle alongside other commitments does a massive disservice to the profession.'
Danielle Lloyd's Involvement
Danielle Lloyd works as an independent travel agent for homeworking agency InteleTravel and had advertised the collaboration to recruit agents alongside Katie Price. The 42-year-old was pictured in the advert to recruit people to join InteleTravel under its brand name Travel Smarter Group. On her Instagram account @travelsmarterwithmissdlloyd, Danielle shares insights into her travel work through the company, where she works to inspire people to become travel agents. Danielle Lloyd declined to comment at the time of the controversy.
The swift closure of Katie Price's travel business venture highlights the ongoing tension between established travel professionals and celebrity-endorsed recruitment campaigns that appear to trivialise the complexities of the travel industry. The episode serves as a reminder of the serious responsibilities involved in travel agency work, particularly during times of global uncertainty and disruption.
