Exsus Travel says it is keen to prove that January events can still be successful after hosting its first function of the year. 

The luxury travel operator told TTG it had ”zero no-shows” at the lavish afternoon tea, which took place last Thursday at The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington. 

The gathering was attended by 25 agents and several supplier partners, including Van Isacker, Domes, Grecotel, Seacloud, Mar-Bella, W Maldives and JW Marriott. 

As well as being treated to the hotel’s Science Afternoon Tea, which includes mini dinosaur biscuits and a planet-shaped pudding, guests heard all about the latest luxury product and properties. 

Exsus Travel says it was pleasantly surprised to see the lunch had been “oversubscribed”, especially during the agents’ “busiest time” of the year. 

“It shows that January events don’t have to be a dud,” said Ella Dunham, head of marketing at Exsus Travel. “We had really high quality agents come along, and they all came despite being in the midst of peaks.” 

The event also saw the official announcement of Exsus Travel’s referral programme, which rewards agents who introduce operators to new advisors. 

“We launched the Exsus Ambassador Programme in response to feedback from agents, as well as our own experience that many of our strongest partnerships have come through personal recommendation rather than cold outreach,” Dunham explained. “We wanted to create something simple that recognises and rewards that advocacy.”  

Agents who refer a new travel agent to Exsus Travel will receive a £250 voucher of their choice once the referred agent confirms their first booking. Advisors can introduce a colleague via email, copying in their usual Exsus contact, or ask the referred agent to mention their name when getting in touch. 

Speaking at Exsus’s Travel Agent Awards 2025, managing director Habib Rehman revealed that the company now owes about 95% of its business to agents. “We don’t take the agents’ support for granted. Your loyalty makes us work even harder,” he said.