Designed to shape the ultimate list of the trade’s finest agent brands and companies, the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 12 November.
Shortlisted agencies will vie for places on the list from within 10 categories, and an overall winner will also be crowned the UK & Ireland’s No.1 Luxury Travel Agency.
Among the shortlist, Designer Travel leads the pack after becoming a finalist in three categories – Top Luxury Home-based Agency (large), Top Luxury Adventure Agency and Top Luxury Responsible Travel Agency.
Swords Travel in Wimbledon and Harpenden-based Travel Four Seasons are shortlisted in both Top Luxury High Street Agency (single store) and Top Luxury Home-based Agency (small), while Wanderlux and Dublin’s Adams & Butler have also picked up two shortlist spots each.
One champion per category will receive a coveted spot, with another agency per category also gaining a place on the list, with details revealed during an evening awards ceremony at Royal Lancaster London on 12 November.
Each company in the running receives one complimentary ticket to attend the event, which will be a fitting celebration of the finalists and winners, with drinks reception, three-course dinner, awards and entertainment.
Tickets are now on sale with additional individual agent tickets costing £179 (+VAT), while suppliers can also attend, with tickets costing £350 (+VAT).
“We received almost 100 entries for the inaugural Top 20 Luxury Travel Agencies, which shows how keen these fantastic companies are to share their hard work, and contribute to creating a luxury travel community built on excellence,” said April Hutchinson, editor and publisher of TTG Luxury.
“We thank and respect everyone who took part in this process in its fledgling year, and the hard work continues now, as our shortlisted agencies will enter into the next judging phase, which includes a video interview.”
All entrants will also receive a copy of the new Top 20 Luxury Travel Agencies Insight Report, offering unprecedented industry benchmarking and showcasing impactful trends among leading luxury agents.
This new initiative sits under Day of Luxury, a dual event that combines TTG Media’s successful one-to-one meetings event Luxpo during the day, followed by the networking and celebration elements of the Top 20 Luxury Travel Agencies in the evening.
During Luxpo, agents will be able to meet a host of luxury suppliers, including Aqua Expeditions, Explora Journeys, Grecotel, ITC Travel Group, Lujo Hotel Bodrum, Oman Tourism, Visit Portugal and a collection of Luxury Ireland partners with Tourism Ireland, with many more to be announced.
“Shortlisted Top 20 agencies will be our priority guests for Luxpo, giving a range of luxury partners the chance to meet with the very best companies in the business,” added Hutchinson. “All attendees will have the opportunity to mutually-match for their meetings too, giving them the opportunity to shape the day as they see fit.”
