The operator, which started to focus on agents more heavily in 2018, had planned to make an agent appreciation lunch an annual event, holding its first one in 2019, before the pandemic struck.
More than 65 agents attended the event, held at Shangri-La The Shard in London, where 12 awards were presented, including Top Agency UK, which went to Designer Travel.
Exsus Travel – founded by Giles Rooney in 1998 – now gets 85% of its business via the trade, and turnover has gone from under £4 million in 2019 to £15 million in 2022, head of trade sales Neil Sealy said.
Sealy, who joined the business to drive the trade transition, added: “Since re-engaging with the trade, Exsus Travel has seen phenomenal growth in our turnover and proportion of trade sales. This is down to the brilliant work our team does, and of course the fantastic support of our travel agents.
“Standing in front of a room full of smiling faces and positivity [at the event] was a particularly moving moment for me, especially after the two years of turmoil the travel industry has endured – it served as a reminder of the strength and resilience of our industry, and it is wonderful to see travel agents, who do such an incredible job, thriving again.”
Other awards presented included Top Individual Home-based Agent to Theresa Green, Aardwolf Travel and Fast Growth to Not Just Travel.
Regional awards went to Oasis Travel, Murray Travel, The Travel Journal, Designer Travel, Journeys a la Carte, Colchester Travel, Off Broadway Travel, Travel Matters and Meon Valley Travel.
