TORONTO — The Travel Agent Next Door is off to a faster start than expected says founder Flemming Friisdahl as he showed off the company’s new headquarters in downtown Toronto.

The organization has signed up some 30 home-based consultants, has a staff of seven and has signed up 42 preferred suppliers, the maximum it wants.

At the open house, Friisdahl added that The Travel Agent Next Door is also offering marketing and back office support for bricks and mortar agencies so the staff can concentrate solely on selling.

And, although the home-based segment is the fastest-growing part of the business (ASTA in the U.S. has seen the home-based portion of its membership rise to 39% from 9% a decade ago, Friisdahl says that’s just part of what The Travel Agent Next Door offers.

He said small- to medium-sized agencies ($1.5-$2 million) can save up to $10,000 a year by using the company for its non-sales functions.

In addition, the organization wants to make it easier for existing brick and mortar agencies that want to start or expand a home-based component.

Hosting an Open House at their new downtown Toronto headquarters are the staff of the Travel Agent Next Door (from left): Flemming Friisdahl, Penny Martin, Nancy Aube, Bernadine D’Souza, Nathalie Nelson & Robert Lambert.