A Plymouth businesswoman who initially hit “disaster” now has an annual turnover of over £1m. She recently found herself on stage at a huge convention for the travel industry talking about her business journey and achievements – alongside Sara Davies from Dragons Den.
Karen Thornton, from Liskeard, started her travel business back in March 2020 with “no clients and no business”. Her late dad had left her an inheritance – which she used to help set herself up.
But three weeks after starting up, the Covid lockdown was declared by the UK government – adding to the huge challenges that Karen was already facing at the time.
However, after that initial struggle, Karen’s perseverance has paid off and she’s now a Gold Travel Counsellor and Plymouth’s “go to travel expert for premium leisure”. The 49-year-old recently spoke to 2,000 people while on stage at the Manchester Convention Centre sitting beside TV personality and Dragons Den businesswoman, Sara.
Karen said: “When I started my travel business in March 2020 with no clients and no business, then Covid hitting three weeks later, it was a complete nightmare – a disaster which went on for a year and a half.
“It was incredibly tough, but I knew I had to get through it all – and eventually things started to change, businesses began to open up around the world (after the Covid pandemic) and now four years later – my business is thriving.
“I was on the stage (last month) at the Manchester Convention Centre in front of over 2000 of my colleagues at the biggest travel conference in the UK – alongside Sara Davies from Dragons Den.”
Karen now has an annual turnover of £1.25m a year, and is fast becoming known as Plymouth’s go to travel expert for premium leisure. She specialises in bespoke tailor-made trips for that holiday that’s “something special”.
It could be a honeymoon or a special birthday holiday adventure, Karen also “crafts bucket list adventures” and other “unforgettable experiences” in exotic places such as Indian Ocean destinations, Caribbean islands, African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa or the Gambia – anywhere at all across the globe.
Nowhere is out of bounds as she also works with a team of experts specialising in all travel worldwide – the world really is your oyster with Karen for the trip of a lifetime to are the Caribbean islands, Asia including Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines or Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman of African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa or the Gambia.
Click here to join PlymouthLive on WhatsApp and we’ll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice