October is here and the summer is over, and what a year it has been. The team at Idle Travel have worked incredibly hard, breaking sales records month after month after month and bringing in so many new customers.

Talking to other agents, it seems they have also seen new customers wanting to book with human travel agents. For us it’s been non-stop, with people coming through the doors, the phones ringing constantly and social media enquiries going through the roof.

In turn, we’ve also had to deal with flight cancellations and changes, and disruption at the airports, all while spending hours on the phone on hold. We all go home exhausted at the end of each day, but also happy that – at last – the bookings are flooding in.

Our reputation is so important to me; having a team that delivers amazing service and goes that extra mile has seen us through these horrendous couple of years. A big part of that is down to great communication skills, and my team have them in abundance – they know how to talk and how to listen.

In fact, the one thing we are without doubt good at in travel is talking, whether it’s to customers, business partners or colleagues – and let’s be fair, our customers often tell us just about their entire life stories.

But when it comes to talking about our own mental health, it’s something we probably still shy away from. And I think it’s time for a reset. Priorities have been shifting since the pandemic.

Many have left the industry, and it is up to us as owners and travel leaders to figure out what work should look like in the future, and considering everyone’s wellbeing at work must be a priority.

Meet the mental health champions looking out for you

In the past, when I’ve said to friends after work “wow, I’m shattered today!”, I’ve had them comment how can I possibly be tired when I sit around on my backside all day. Or when a customer comes through the door and there’s no one sat in front of you, they’ll say: “Seeing as you’re not doing anything.”

The mental strain all of us in travel endure has never been as severe as it has over the past couple of years, and that’s why I am proud to be one of the five champions of TTG Media and Abta LifeLine’s Get Travel Talking campaign.

It has challenged me to reflect on, and change, the way I think about my business to ensure I have wellbeing in mind. By listening, opening up and talking about mental health, I have been surprised by how many people, or someone close to them, have had struggles of their own.

To all companies out there, I would urge them to consider having members of their team take a mental health first aid course and utilise them as workplace mental health responders.

It’s time to talk... Let’s get behind Get Travel Talking and make it part of all of our businesses for the people who work in the industry now – and those who will in the future.

Tony Mann is the owner and director of Bradford-based agency Idle Travel.