Interview

Home residence firm taps Pope’s sommelier as agents demand ‘exclusive’ service

The luxury residences rental company has recruited the Vatican’s wine expert in a bid to stand out against its competitors.

The Cruise Room launches recruitment drive to free up owners to pursue 'new projects'

The Wirral-based agency believes it needs to hire more staff so its co-founders Jonathan Howitt and Robbie O’Grady can focus on new projects

Agent invests in ‘aftercare’ app to prevent client loyalty ‘fizzling out’

Emily Grace has teamed up with Georgie Spurling on a wellness app designed to hold guests ‘accountable’ on their wellness journey after they check-out of the hotel.

Hays Travel ready to go all-in on cruise with bookable website following Cruise.co.uk deal

Dame Irene Hays added the agency giant remained in an acquisitive mood should any suitable opportunities emerge

Turkey Tourism: 'Agents' knowledge of the range of options Turkey offers is crucial to us'

Turkey’s efforts to extend the summer season and shift the spotlight onto lesser-known destinations is bearing fruit, and agents stand to benefit, Turkey’s tourism lead tells TTG’s Gary Noakes

'We can move forward': Baldwins Travel's Tricia Lester joins Ashdown Travel along with nine colleagues

Surrey agency Ashdown Travel approached Lester on LinkedIn ’a couple of months ago’ before revealing plans to add two branches and recruit more staff

‘Let independents decide their suppliers,’ urges agency with 100% commission promise

A new host agency, Independents – Powered by Azure, has criticised restrictive contracts that limit the potential of advisors’ earnings.

Natasha Marson: 'We're quirky, there's a bit of sass in there – that resonates well with the trade'

EasyJet holidays’ head of trade distribution talks TTG’s James Chapple through her mission to engage the trade with sassy activity, produce better tools for agents and forge ever-stronger ties with homeworkers, as well as the memories she still draws on for inspiration

Fora Travel: the new $1 billion travel agency everyone is talking about

With thousands of members across 92 countries already, Fora Travel is interested in the UK market too.

Luxury agent launches ‘transformational’ service for clients after ‘lowest’ point

Having overcome a number of challenges in her own life, Travl.Love founder Nadine Brady now wants to help others reach their personal and professional potential.

Quark plans to invest more into 'pivotal' UK market as need to educate agents intensifies

The polar-only line promises to ’stick to what we’re good at’ and not diversify its product range by offering sailings in the Med or Galapagos

Oceania Cruises 'simplifies' pricing structure in bid to 'double' UK trade sales

Speaking on the line’s new Allura ship, sales bosses Nathan Hickman and Louise Craddock laid out exactly how the brand plans to sell more cruises through the UK travel trade

Navigating Explora Journeys’ next wave: new UK roles will focus on growing agent sales

Explora Journeys marked another brand milestone this week, with Anna Nash showing deep recognition for advisors in trusting the brand and helping her reshape perceptions of cruising

Indus Experiences rewards agents with extra commission to mark 30th anniversary

Celebrating a 30th anniversary is a big deal, but it doesn’t always have to involve having a party.

So instead of holding a birthday bash, family-owned operator Indus Experiences decided a better way to mark the milestone would be to reward agents with enhanced commission to thank them for their support over the past 30 years.

HX's sales chief shares vision to retain claim to being 'UK's top expedition cruise line'

Line’s vice-president and managing director, Europe and global sales enablement tells Harry Kemble how the expedition line’s protracted separation from Hurtigruten Group has finally left it in charge of its own destiny

'I made a £41,000 booking in Albert Square – while acting in EastEnders'

From making a booking on the set of EastEnders to meeting Steven Spielberg, Halstead Travel’s Arline Sloan seamlessly mixes her work as a home-based travel agent and extra

Specialist line's sales chief: 'Expedition cruise market is at its limit'

The one-ship expedition line often calls into the UK as it repositions its Sea Spirit vessel from Antarctica to Arctic, which gives agents a chance to explore onboard

Agent reveals enquiries jumped after celebrity client's surprise announcement

Rebecca Murphy, founder of Travelista, has seen a surge in interest since organising a luxury holiday for Coleen Nolan.

Flight Centre confirms two more shop openings as cautious expansion project gathers pace

Flight Centre’s UK boss Joe Beevis said he will open new branches in the coming months but the agency will not return to its heyday of almost 80 UK outlets

Luxury operator reveals agents’ ‘trickiest’ concierge request as demand for VIP service grows

Carrier has expanded its concierge team following a 37% increase in monthly enquiries for the elite service compared to last year.

'Good' number of Crystal customers migrating across from other cruise lines, says new trade chief

Luke Smith, Carnival Cruise Line’s former international and UK sales director, revealed the booking trend during one of his first trade press interviews as Crystal’s sales vice-president, UK and EMEA

Agency launches guide to warn clients after concerns over travel scams

Designer Travel has launched a lengthy manual for customers on travel security after falling victim to a fraudulent enquiry.

Viva Cruises boss hails 'brilliant' river sector despite potential 'challenges' ahead

The river line’s chief executive Andrea Kruse said the sector now has a bigger profile following sustained industry-wide investment over the last decade

Ambassador Cruise Line becomes fully adults-only after dropping multi-generational sailings

The three-ship line has launched its 75-departure 2027/28 programme featuring no multi-generational sailings