It is one of the most common questions people ask when they are thinking about starting a travel business. Before they look at training, suppliers, or booking systems, they want to know one thing: am I going to be protected?
“Do I need my own insurance? What happens if something goes wrong with a booking?”
It is a fair question. The idea of being personally liable for a client’s holiday is enough to make anyone hesitate. And for a lot of people considering a career in travel, the uncertainty around insurance is the thing that holds them back the longest.
The good news? It does not need to.
The Quick Answer
- No, you do not need to arrange your own Professional Indemnity or Public Liability Insurance. Within JLT, this is included from day one.
- The myth: You need thousands of pounds in insurance before you can trade.
- The reality: A good host agency covers the essentials so agents can focus on building their business.
- The JLT position: Every agent is covered by Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, and Employers’ Liability Insurance as part of their membership.
How JLT’s Insurance Coverage Works
When agents join JLT, they are covered under the group’s insurance policies straight away. That includes Professional Indemnity Insurance, which protects agents if a client claims they received incorrect advice or if an error caused them financial loss. It also includes Public Liability Insurance, which covers claims related to injury or property damage connected to business activities. And it includes Employers’ Liability Insurance too.
These are not optional extras or add-ons that need to be budgeted for separately. They are built into every membership because agents should feel confident and protected from the very first day they start trading. No chasing quotes from brokers. No comparing policies. It is handled.
Then there is the question of client funds. Every booking made through JLT is protected through the PTS Trust Account. That means client payments go into a secure trust account, not into the company’s everyday bank account. If anything were to happen, client money stays protected. It is one of the most important layers of financial security in the industry, and it is something clients appreciate when agents explain it to them.
On top of that, ATOL protection covers bookings that include flights. Supplier Failure Insurance (SFI) provides a safety net if a tour operator or hotel faces insolvency. And Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) safeguards clients if an airline ceases trading. Multiple layers, all working together.
The Optional Extra: Errors and Omissions Cover
There is one additional type of insurance worth knowing about. Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance provides an extra layer of protection in case an agent personally makes a mistake that results in a financial impact on the business.
This might be quoting the wrong price, booking the wrong dates, or missing a detail that leads to a complaint. These things can happen to anyone, especially in the early stages of learning. E&O cover provides that extra safety net.
Not every agent takes this out. It is completely optional and depends on whether it would provide added peace of mind. JLT can help arrange a quote through its insurance provider. There is no pressure either way.
How This Helps Your Business
One of the biggest barriers for people considering a career in travel is the fear of risk. “What if I get it wrong?” is the question behind the question. And it is the thing that stops a lot of talented, capable people from taking the next step.
Knowing that insurance is handled, client funds are protected, and compliance is managed through a trusted framework gives agents space to focus on the parts that matter. Building relationships with clients. Learning suppliers. Getting confident with bookings. Growing at their own pace.
Within JLT, agents regularly say that understanding the protection framework was the moment they stopped hesitating and started moving forward. It removes a mental barrier that holds a lot of people back. Once the safety net is clear, the focus can go where it belongs: on the work itself.
Insurance should be the foundation that gives people confidence, not the barrier that keeps them stuck.
For Your Client Conversations
This is worth remembering when speaking with clients too. Being able to explain that their money is held in a trust account, that bookings are ATOL protected, and that the agent carries Professional Indemnity Insurance builds immediate trust. It sets agents apart from faceless comparison sites.
Clients want to know their holiday money is safe. They want to know they are dealing with someone who takes responsibility seriously. And within JLT, agents can tell them all of that is in place, with confidence. That conversation alone can be the difference between a client booking with an agent or going elsewhere.
The Practical Bit
For anyone comparing different host agencies or franchise models, here is what to check:
- Is Professional Indemnity Insurance included or an extra cost?
- How are client funds protected? Is there a trust account?
- What ATOL and bonding arrangements are in place?
- Is E&O insurance available if you want it?
- Are there hidden fees for compliance or protection?
Within JLT, all of this is covered. No hidden costs, no nasty surprises. Membership includes the insurance and compliance framework needed to trade safely and professionally.
