Gold Travel Counsellor's No.1 rule for Gen Z daughter when speaking to clients

Luxury

Emma Dooney

18 March 2025

Top-selling travel agent Lisa Hillyard is keen to show daughter Amy that sometimes, the “old-fashioned” way of dealing with customers is best.

Lisa and Amy Hillyard — Top travel agent Lisa Hillyard, left, talks training daughter Amy to follow in her footsteps

A top agent has shared the simple business advice she gave her daughter after more than 40 years in the travel industry.

Lisa Hillyard gained Gold Status at Travel Counsellors in 2004, and has retained the coveted title ever since. She has won multiple awards for her VIP service, including the top Travel Counsellor Worldwide, and is currently ranked the second best Travel Counsellor of all time in leisure travel.

Today, the Northamptonshire-based entrepreneur is a leading voice in the sector, regularly appearing on radio and TV to discuss all things travel trade.

Register for free to continue reading

Get unlimited access to the latest travel industry news and analysis, comment on articles and sign up to newsletters.
Register for free

Already registered? Login here or below.

Having difficulty logging in? Try these tips, or contact support@ttgmedia.com

Top sales tips from our partners

How to unlock premium sales opportunities with Lufthansa Group’s new cabins

From festive breaks to river cruises: how to sell Newmarket Holidays with confidence

Coming soon: the new tool letting you book some of the world's biggest live sport and music events

Motorhome Holidays

7 reasons why a motorhome adventure could be the easiest holiday you’ve ever sold to Australia or New Zealand

The home of Halloween: How to boost your autumn and winter bookings to Ireland

Top business stories this week

1.

'The way we promote homeworking and franchising risks creating the impression making money selling holidays is easy'

6.

The £10 million-a-year agent planning to retire at 45: 'My knowledge sets me apart'

2.

Expedition cruise

Shedding old mindsets, embracing AI and 'Alaska Syndrome': How the expedition cruise sector is evolving

7.

Five things I learned from my fam trip to Antarctica’s deep interior

3.

Business advice

Expedition cruise chiefs insist the Arctic isn’t the ‘tricky sell’ agents fear

8.

Business advice

Travel agent lands £80,000 in bookings for luxury cruise line he had never previously sold

4.

'Specialise to survive', and 4 other key agent takeaways from the 2026 InteleTravel conference

9.

Business advice

Travel Counsellor reveals the marriage pact that’s led to ‘100% more conversions’

5.

'With more people self-identifying as travel agents, perhaps reputation and customer approval is the new accreditation'

10.

Are you a truly inclusive travel agent? Or do you just think you are?

All business advice

Competitions

Win a £200 Fortnum & Mason hamper with Newmarket Holidays

Win a 10-day motorhome adventure in Australia or New Zealand with thl

Win a luxury Cunard hamper including a bathrobe and bottle of Laurent-Perrier

Win a £100 Amazon voucher with Tui

All competitions

Events

23 April | Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

30 June | The Minster Building London

23 September | The Roundhouse, Camden

Handpicked just for you

Spring Hotels to unveil Cleopatra Palace makeover and family developments at WTM

Riviera Travel elevates agent support with launch of new 'Riv Rewards' programme

Audley’s Lisa Fitzell reveals ‘retail hadn’t been on the cards’ before Kuoni closures

Four wellness insights from Synergy agents need to know about

The Good Travel Company hires former agency boss Linda Hill to fill strategic role

All handpicked stories