After a thoroughly relaxing Christmas, which included spending time with friends and family, a spot of bouldering, and a quick visit to Devon, Friday 2 January was all about hitting the ground running in preparation of peaks. A quick blitz through emails revealed some exciting new bookings with the sales team and an incredible December for trade. 

I accepted January invitations, including the opening of Ashdown Travel’s new shop in Knutsford – a great chance to connect with agents in person. Later, I picked up the van and loaded up for the Not Just Travel New Year, New Start conference, before catching up with our product team on our planned Japan fam trip this summer. Japan remains a top trending destination as we head into 2026, and agents are eager for insider tips to help them sell it confidently.

Fresh start buzz in the Cotswolds

On Saturday 3 January, it was an early start to set up for the NJT event, which took place at De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel. Michaela Wood from Inside Japan's agent sales team and I constructed the yatai food cart and prepped materials including plenty of soju (a flavoured Korean vodka made from rice). 

This set the tone for a vibrant day reconnecting with agents and introducing them to our Agent Starter Kit and accompanying Agent Trade Hub, brand new resources for all agents – from those who haven't sold our destinations before to Inside Travel Group veterans. New brochures, this year’s incentives, upcoming webinars, and our marketing assets are all a few clicks away!

The marketplace was buzzing – I caught up with Matt Phillips from Travel Chaps and Isobel and Mark McCardie from Rock My World, who are huge champions of both InsideJapan and InsideAsia, alongside many agents who joined me for our Elite Trip to Japan last autumn. 

© Charlie Orr

Our chosen flavour of soju (cherry) went down extremely well – so we had some repeat visitors to the stall. Conversations centred on Japan itineraries and overcoming client hesitations about multi-centre trips. After a quick pack-down, we celebrated with agents into the night in the event space of the De Vere – boosting morale for what promises to be a strong peaks season.

Frosty roads and future plans

After consuming a small vat of coffee, Sunday morning saw me driving the van back to Bristol through icy conditions. As I spend a lot of time on the road, my music taste tends to fluctuate quite dramatically but this particular journey featured me singing along to Ecca Vandal, Spelling, and the Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack. 

Back home, I confirmed a supplier showcase with Janine Loves for 25 February – a great opportunity to spotlight Asia’s hottest destinations – with our Japan and South Korea Small Group Tours leading the way. These showcases are vital for helping agents tackle barriers like client uncertainty on long-haul travel and giving them the confidence to sell our Cultural Adventure style of trips.

Webinars and store visits

By Tuesday 6 January, the pace hadn’t slowed. A lunchtime webinar with Janine Loves focused on Japan – still the star of early 2026 trends – before heading to Clevedon to see Lisa Weakley at Global Independent Travel. We planned two client events for later in the month centred on India and Japan, both destinations seeing a surge in interest for cultural depth and tailor-made itineraries, with India now seeing more demand outside of the Golden Triangle, which is really exciting. These face-to-face sessions are where we unpick challenges like concerns on exploring new regions and help agents turn queries into confirmed bookings.

Ashdown Travel adventures

Thursday 8 and Friday 9 January were all about Ashdown Travel’s three Kent branches. In Tunbridge Wells, I introduced our new Agent Incentive Programme and brainstormed marketing ideas with Tricia Lester. 

At Sevenoaks and Oxted, I celebrated Anne Knight’s incredible Japan booking – three months in the making! I had stepped in last December to speak directly with the clients over a call, showcasing why InsideJapan is the best in the business. The itinerary for this trip had me particularly excited as it featured a stay on the island of Shikoku, which is where I lived for three years back in 2011. We also locked in a Meet the Expert day for September, ensuring ongoing engagement and support for their team.

© Charlie Orr

As a thank you gift, I took a pack of Japan's famous green tea flavour KitKats. Japan has somehow become known for its wild flavours of KitKat, and green tea is definitely more of a Japanese taste. With out offices in Japan and staff visiting Asia on a regular basis, we always have a good supply of interesting snacks. 

Destination show drive

The week wrapped up with the Delmar World Travel Show on Sunday 11 January. After braving snow and rain to reach Chester, I spent the day speaking with clients about Asia, with Japan once again stealing the spotlight. From cherry blossom season to off-the-beaten-path itineraries, the appetite for authentic experiences is stronger than ever. 

One client I met had previously been to Japan but not since the 90s so we had lots to chat through about changes across the country, new areas to explore and why it’s time to get another visit booked in! These shows remind me why collaboration with agents is key – together, we turn dreams into bookings.

First week down – 51 to go!

From frosty van drives to lively webinars and inspiring store visits, January has been a whirlwind of agent-focused activity. Each conversation reinforces the value of partnership – tackling barriers, sharing trends, and celebrating wins. Here’s to more stories, more connections, and a fantastic year ahead for Inside Travel.