Agents

Increase in January customers offset by fall in spend with agents – Barclays

Barclays Consumer Spend report finds transactions through agents in January grew but at reduced value, with airlines not faring so well

Tui heaps praise on independent agents, but focus on app sales bears fruit

Tui has said independent agents are ’very important’ to its business in the UK, but has also highlighted the success of its app during peaks

Tui bullish about growth prospects despite tough winter for UK and Ireland

Group reveals significant uptick in early winter revenue and earnings, although seasonal losses in its northern Europe region – which comprises the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries – have deepened by more than 75% to €88.5 million

Tui chief pins slow start to peaks on change in UK strategy

Tui’s boss has said a change in direction towards more dynamic packaging meant its January sales were slower than normal, with fixed capacity remaining tight and sold at higher margins

From toes to travel: why this Essex chiropodist switched careers after 15 years in healthcare

Joe McDonnell spent 15 years as a footcare clinician before making the switch to travel in late 2024

Travel concierge looks to fill ‘gap in the market’ for UHNW clients

London-based Calder & Go offers travel through a private membership service

Travel goals: from apprentice to looking after 331 shops

To celebrate just how far you can go as an apprentice in the travel industry, we chat to Ste Bracegirdle, Tui’s head of retail, who joined the company at 16

Five big group bookings other agents can learn from

Large group bookings may appear daunting at first, but they can be very lucrative if they are approached in the right way; TTG’s Harry Kemble spoke to the experts to find out how they got some huge cruise bookings over the line

‘How I booked £150,000 after a Greenland cruise with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions’

Spear Travels’ associate Sally Dixon explains how her expedition cruise sales soared after she joined an epic adventure to Greenland with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, and shares her key selling tips for the line

Holland America Line launches biggest-ever UK ship visit programme

Visits will get under way in late-April and will run through to 3 August, with agents able to get onboard two of HAL’s Pinnacle class ships – Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam

Why agents should embrace sports tourism this year

Sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors within the travel and tourism industry and it is expected to reach $1.33 trillion by 2032. So why UK agents aren’t embracing it? Ilaria Grasso Macola investigates

Travel Counsellors delivers record £138 million in January sales

Travel Counsellors has detailed a record-breaking January, helped by increased premium sales as well as corporate travel

Designer Travel hits £10 million monthly sales for the first time

Luxury homeworking agency achieves “real milestone” during January

Pakistan International Airlines prepares to resume London flights

Pakistan’s flag carrier is preparing to relaunch UK services after it was banned by the UK and EU on safety grounds in 2020

How did peaks 2025 compare with last year?

TTG’s survey of more than 130 travel agents reveals concerns for suppliers undercutting on price, a peaks that is on par with the previous year and tips for new destinations to tempt clients

‘I'm no longer selling Mauritius only to honeymooners’

Agent Bridget Perriman won a Mauritius holiday in a Sunlife competition with TTG with her idea for an island treasure hunt – and she got to try it out herself

‘People said retail travel was coming to an end – thankfully, I didn't listen to them!’

Don Bircham, whose agency business this year marks its 25th anniversary, tells Ilaria Grasso Macola how a big risk paid off

Riviera, Hurtigruten, G Adventures: all the latest travel trade people moves

Recent moves include promotions for two TTG 30 Under 30 alumni and a change at the top at a river cruise line, while an operator group has created its first agent engagement panel

Jet2 launches Bournemouth base and confirms plan for third based aircraft

A bullish Jet2 has confirmed it will add a third aircraft to its Bournemouth fleet as it starts flights from the south-coast airport on Tuesday (4 February)

EasyJet holidays extends enhanced commission incentive throughout February

EasyJet holidays will extend its enhanced commission offer throughout February focussing on selected destinations, it has said

TTG seeks 20 Sustainable Travel Ambassadors with launch of 2025 programme

The TTG Sustainable Travel Heroes travel agent training programme is back for its fourth year and is looking for 20 more enthusiastic agents to join workshops and fam trips with its sector-champion partners: easyJet holidays, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts and Intrepid.

Ambassador Cruise Line unveils dedicated training events for homeworkers

Ambasasdor’s bottomless brunch training sessions will be aimed at homeworkers based around the country, which it will host on a trial basis this month

Santorini seismic activity warning prompts Foreign Office alert

The FCDO has repeated advice from Greek authorities about seismic activity in and around Santorini, but ruled out a repeat of 1956 disaster

How to fix fam trips: agents and suppliers have their say

The majority of travel advisors are unhappy with the current format of fam trips – TTG explores what the solutions could be