Skip to main content

Essential

Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said
'Value will be key' in 2026 as Advantage members report bookings up 24%
The dominant trend for 2026 appears to be ultra-early bookings for increased value for money
Matt Irwin and Henry McCoid-Filby
Specialist line bolsters UK trade team ahead of landmark year
Matt Irwin joins the five-ship line as trade partnerships manager while Henry McCoy-Filby takes up the role of inside sales executive
Galapagos Islands
National Geo-Lindblad hosts first ever fam trip for UK agents ahead of Alaska expansion
The cruise operator took nine agents to the Galapagos in November as it prepares to evolve its offerings in the Last Frontier
EasyJet holidays' Natasha Marson
Op unveils new booking management function to give agents more control
The move is part of the package holiday firm's efforts to offer its 7,000-plus travel agent partners greater flexibility and control over customer bookings
Mother and child sitting on a cliff and looking out over a beach in Tenerife
Shoulder season 'accelerates' as clients favour shorter beach breaks
The new shoulder season travel trend is 'here to stay', with November bookings growing by nearly a quarter
shoulder season
CV Villas praises agents after 'remarkable' jump in shoulder season bookings
CV Villas reveals its business for next year's shoulder seasons is outperforming the traditional peak summer window – thanks to agents efforts to educate their clients on the benefits
James Cole founded Panache Cruises in 2020
Agency secures further £2.75m to drive international expansion
Panache Cruises to open new offices in Canada and Australia next year, and invest in strengthening its Chorley-based head office team
Zaton Holiday Resort in Croatia
Jet2 to start selling holiday parks through Eurocamp tie-in
Choice of 32 Eurocamp parks across France, Italy and Croatia available for agents to book for summer 2026
Ronald Reagan Washington National airport with US flag draped
Tourists to the US could be asked for five years' social media history
Measures set out in Customs and Border Protection filing, and would apply to Esta applicants – including those from the UK and Ireland
Travellers boarding a plane
Consumers scaling back 2026 travel plans as rising costs drive 'value-focused mindset'
While the desire to travel remains strong, cost-conscious behaviours are "increasingly defining" how people are travelling
Heather Witten and Jesse Lepow
Operator creates new global partnerships team to 'deepen' service to agents
The team will continue to build key relationships with travel agents and oversee the launch of a new trade website
David Gooch and Iglu team
Flight Centre Travel Group acquires Iglu ending two-year search for buyer
Iglu chief executive David Gooch will continue to lead the business once the acquisition has been concluded on Thursday (11 December)
Ben Boesch
Dertour outlines Francis Torrilla succession plan with new joint chief executive structure
The company confirmed it anticipates the joint chief executive structure will be in place for a year, with a view to Francis Torrilla retiring towards the end of 2026
A person holding two bank cards with a half-packed suitcase in the background
Travel agents defy biggest dip in consumer card spending for nearly four years
Spending growth with travel agents outstrips all other sectors to record biggest jump since December 2023, according to new Barclays data
Cyplon Holidays has promoted Faye Anderson to national sales manager
Faye Anderson promoted to national sales manager role at Cyplon Holidays
Anderson will continue to look after agents in the south, but will also lead on national sales strategy
Catherine Finlan and Paul Whitters join Barrhead Travel's senior leadership team
Barrhead Travel names Catherine Finlan as first-ever sales director

Barrhead Travel has created two new director positions, including its first-ever sales director role, growing its senior leadership team to 11.

Catherine Finlan, head of sales for England and Northern Ireland, steps up to the sales director post after celebrating 30 years in the industry.

Finlan's career started on the shopfloor at West Midlands Co-operative Travel; she rose up through the ranks becoming a Thomas Cook regional sales manager in 2016 before joining Barrhead in 2019.

Fridtjof Nansen
Line to celebrate 130th anniversary with two-night fam trip next year
HX Expeditions first told TTG about plans to host hundreds of agents on 'a statement fam' in May 2025
Rachel Healey
Lusso appoints Rachel Healey to newly-created head of business development role
Agent-only tour operator Lusso has hired Healey as part of a long-term strategy to improve its trade relationships
A Jet2 plane taking off in Corfu, Greece
Jet2 to go 'further than ever' to support agents during peaks
Travel agents will be encouraged to take advantage of "every [booking] opportunity" through training sessions, marketing tips and a series of competitions
'Big step for sustainable travel': Eurostar signs deal for direct rail link with Germany
Set to start in the early 2030s, the routes would use Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet
The team at Tates Travel celebrating its acquisition
Founders to stay on with family-run agency of 40 years after sale
The agency was founded in 1985 by brother and sister Lee Tate and Lisa Halliday, and will continue to be run by Lee and his team
Lee Ainsworth, employee at Advantage Travel Partnership
Advantage strategy director Lee Ainsworth to take on additional membership brief
TTG 30 Under 30 alumnus Ainsworth has been with Advantage for 10 years, rising up through the organisation taking on roles across tour operating, operations and latterly strategy
Jet2's first Egypt flights for more than 15 years will take off in February 2027
Jet2 reveals new year-round Egypt programme in full including four exclusive routes
Airline and operator will serve Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada for the first time since 2011
The Travel Agent Next Door chief executive Flemming Friisdahl with Travel Counsellors chief executive Steve Byrne
Travel Counsellors' ranks swell to nearly 4,000 following acquisition of Canadian agency
The deal creates a homeworking operation with total annual sales in the region of £1.5 billion