Black Opal recruits homeworkers as business expands

Cheshire-based Black Opal Travel Group is recruiting up to four homeworking travel agents as the sports tours and luxury holidays specialist expands.

The agents can be based anywhere in the UK or be near to the group’s retail travel lounge in Hale – or even work from the Hale office if required.

Black Opal can offer homeworkers training and marketing support, alongside the opportunity to sell luxury holidays and its “highly successful” sports tours.

The group is also looking to move to larger premises to enable further expansion locally.

Jamie Smith, managing director, said: “Recruitment of homeworkers was always in the strategy as our next step in the growth plan, and with the positive bounce-back of clients using agents again, this is a perfect time for us to take the next step.”

He said sales for the retail travel lounge are currently 35% ahead of 2023 and continuing to grow.

The group has five full-time sales staff, with the overall team of 11 being supported by part-time and freelance marketing and digital specialists.

The group’s current Atol is for 430 passengers, generating revenue of £2.5 million.

However, Smith anticipates it will increase substantially when the licence is renewed in September 2025 because of popular sports events, such as the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia, taking annual revenue to about £6 million.

As well as the high-end sports tours, Black Opal sells luxury holidays from operators such as Lusso Travel, Azure, Pure Luxury and Jet2holidays.

Smith said travel agents are particularly important for the sports tours operating side of the business, adding: “There is very little choice out there for agents looking for a tour operator with great experience in the luxury/premium sports market.”

Pictured from left: Jamie, Keri, Louise, Kathryn, Rachel, Kym, Jody and Alex.