Designer Travel
A Hays Travel-owned commission-split host founded in 2008 by two former Co-op Travel directors, with joining costs scaled to experience and splits of 60–80%.
- Last reviewed 22 September 2026
- Checked against the official ABTA and CAA ATOL registers on 22 September 2026
- Company website
The facts
| Model | Commission split |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | £0–£500 by experience |
| Ongoing fee | £50/mo |
| Other fees | None recorded |
| Agent keeps | 60–80% |
| Financial protection | ABTA · ATOL |
| Agents in the network | 100+ (TG#29); “180+ experts” claimed on the company site |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Parent or owner | Hays Travel Ltd |
| Accepts newcomers | Yes — pay-as-you-go route for new entrants |
What sets it apart
Founded by Amanda Matthews and Karen Pocock, both former Co-op Travel directors.
Who it suits
Open to newcomers — the company’s stated position is “yes — pay-as-you-go route for new entrants”.
You work self-employed under the host’s licences and bonding, and keep an agreed share of the commission you earn.
How customers’ money is protected
This matters to you as well as to your clients: it determines who is liable if a supplier or the company itself fails.
ABTA: L318X. ABTA membership commits the company to ABTA’s code of conduct, requires it to protect customers’ money on holidays that do not include a flight, and gives customers a complaints and arbitration route.
ATOL: Via Hays Travel’s ATOL 5534. An ATOL licence protects the money customers pay for package holidays that include a flight, and covers getting them home if the company fails.
ABTA membership L318X confirmed on the official ABTA member search. The CAA register shows Designer Travel Ltd holds no ATOL in its own name: it is an Accredited Body member operating under ATOL 5534, which is held by Hays Travel Ltd. The company site’s “ATOL 5534” is accurate only in that umbrella sense.
Ownership and background
Founded in 2008 by Amanda Matthews and Karen Pocock; the parent company is Hays Travel Ltd. The headcount differs by source: TG#29 gives 100+, while the company site claims “180+ experts”.