Neil Smith, who has been with Vertical since 1998 and has more than 30 years travel industry experience, plus another 20 in retail, secured an 85-night Cunard cruise for three – total booking value: £125,000.

It came despite Smith, who works for Your Holiday Booking, missing out on the client of 20 years’ last cruise booking in 2023 as he was receiving radiotherapy treatment for cancer.

"The amazing Cunard booking came from a client who I have looked after for more than 20 years,” he said. “I missed out on her last cruise booking in 2023 as I was having radiotherapy for cancer.”

Smith recalled how the customer had contacted the company she used for the 2023 booking only to be told sailings from Southampton to South America were sold out.

However, when she reached out to Smith for advice, he managed to secure her a place and her preferred suite sailing from Hamburg, with return Heathrow flights and airport-to-ship transfers.

“I am obviously over the moon with such a fantastic booking,” Smith added.

Smith was talked out of retiring post-Covid due to a dramatic uptick in demand for overseas travel post-Covid; he praised Vertical for its ability to attract “brilliant people” to the business.

"From technical support in Laindon to the sales support team, to admin team, the commercial support and all the management team right up to our chief executive Peter Healey. they have all been magnificent,” he continued.

"I should also mention the amazing friendships that I have made with other homeworkers spread out all over the country – great friends for life."