Influencers and celebrities including former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison and Love Island contestant Yasmin Hadlow have been promoting PlanNet Marketing, a company that recruits independent travel agents for the US business InteleTravel, theguardian.com reported. While promoters pitch the work as a path to financial freedom and flexible remote careers, seven former agents who spoke to the outlet said they struggled to make a profit after accounting for sign-up fees and monthly costs, with many pushed toward recruitment rather than selling holidays.
Yasmin Hadlow and Vicky Pattison Promote Travel Agency Scheme Online
Vicky Pattison’s Instagram page, Vickys Vacays, targets women and mothers on maternity leave, describing the opportunity as a way to build confidence, income, and flexibility through a supportive online travel business.
Former InteleTravel Agents Report Low Profits and Heavy Focus on Recruitment
Mark, a former agent who joined InteleTravel in 2021 after being furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic, spent roughly two years in the system. He told theguardian.com that after making only a handful of sales, his recruiter encouraged him to focus on recruitment instead. Mark ended up with a team of 10 recruits but earned only about £1,000 in commission while paying roughly £32 a month in fees alongside a £100 sign-up cost. Shelley, a 52-year-old nurse from Suffolk, signed up in 2021 after seeing a Facebook ad. She stated that after her 30-day money-back guarantee period ended, she felt left on her own with training videos and estimated her net profit over two years was between £500 and £1,000 after paying for business cards, flyers, and a website.
InteleTravel Agents Earn Commission While Recruiters Make Little
InteleTravel agents earn approximately 70% of the roughly 10% commission that suppliers pay on bookings, meaning a £10,000 holiday sale yields about £700 for the agent. Those who also join PlanNet Marketing receive roughly $4 (about £3) for every new agent they recruit, alongside referral bonuses and rank-based payouts as their downline grows. However, PlanNet Marketing’s annual income disclosure statement indicates that average annual earnings across its general base of representatives are about $40. Claire, a former agent who achieved the one-star director rank after recruiting about 150 people, stated she was making roughly $800 a month before leaving in February 2024, noting that most of the 700 people who passed through her network did not stay because they failed to make money.
Critics Call the Business Model a Multi-Level Marketing Operation
Critics have characterized the business model as a multi-level marketing (MLM) operation—a legal framework where participants earn income largely through recruitment rather than product sales. InteleTravel denies that it is an MLM, maintaining that it is a separate business from PlanNet Marketing and that enrolment with both is entirely optional. Amanda Restivo, vice-president of compliance at PlanNet Marketing, stated that success requires personal effort and dedication, adding that individuals can choose to work exclusively with either company.
Frequently Asked Questions About InteleTravel and PlanNet Marketing
What are the upfront costs to become an InteleTravel agent?
New agents pay an initial sign-up fee of about £150 to InteleTravel, followed by a monthly fee of £30 to £40 for access to training and booking systems. Those who also sign up as representatives for PlanNet Marketing pay an additional monthly fee of about £14.
Does InteleTravel offer any guarantees on fees?
InteleTravel provides a 30-day money-back guarantee where agents can cancel for a refund minus any travel commissions earned. The company also offers a first-year profit guarantee that refunds fees if earnings do not cover them, provided agents meet specific contractual conditions such as booking one completed hotel stay per quarter and buying branded business cards.
What rank does PlanNet Marketing assign for 100 recruits?
Agents reach the one-star director leadership rank after successfully recruiting 100 people, a tier that PlanNet Marketing states guarantees a minimum monthly income of $1,000.