HX won the top supplier award after earlier bagging Expedition Cruise Line of the Year for a second consecutive year, impressing the judges with its "forward-thinking, purpose-driven ESG approach" and strong travel agent ratings.

Hays Travel's Libby Gray, meanwhile, won the top agent award – UK & Ireland Travel Agent of the Year – and was also named Manager of the Year just a few months after her branch, Hays Travel Teesside Park, was crowned TTG Top 50 Top Travel Agency in the North East.

The judges described Gray as “a true powerhouse helping to bring on the next generation of travel agent talent”.

See the full list of winners

The Travel Industry Awards

See all the best TIAs pictures

Comedian and broadcaster Sue Perkins was on hosting duties as TTG Media's flagship awards packed out The Roundhouse for a second year.

Guests saw Not Just Travel Founders Steve Witt and Paul Harrison take home the coveted John Hays Entrepreneur Award, while Travel Counsellors Founder David Speakman was named Travel Legend.

There were double honours for Explore Worldwide after the adventure travel specialist picked up Sustainable Travel Company of the Year and Family Holidays Provider of the Year.

Elsewhere, easyJet holidays claimed Tour Operator of the Year (Large), with Ocean Cruise Line of the Year going to Virgin Voyages. Riviera Travel won River Cruise Line of the Year.

In the agent categories, Cotton Travel’s Scott Lawton was named High Street Travel Agent of the Year, while Gillian Williams of the Travel Village Group retained her Cruise Expert of the Year accolade.

The ceremony also saw the announcement of TTG Nexus, a major new two-day business building event for agents and suppliers set to be held in Birmingham next April, which will also incorporate both The Travel Industry Awards and TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies.

See the full list of Travel Industry Awards winners

In addition, the evening was another another opportunity to raise awareness of and rally support for TTG Media's 2026 fundraising partner Bebe's Hive.

An incredible £13,690 was raised for the child bereavement support service on the night, which will go towards TTG Media's £30,000 target. And you can still add to that total by buying a personalised keyring, handmade by members of the TTG team.

'There's enthusiasm to learn about expedition'

The night's big winners, HX Expeditions, completed an Expedition Cruise Line of the Year hattrick. "We've won it three years in a row, which is amazing," said Nathaniel Sherborne, HX Expeditions senior vice-president and managing director EMEA, ANZ and global sales enablement.

"It is testament to the team at HX and the support we’ve had from the trade over the past few years. We’ve really tried to grow not just expedition [cruising], but also the HX brand. So for us, an expedition line, to win UK & Ireland Travel Company of the Year has really blown our minds."

Asked why HX keeps winning, UK and Ireland Sales Director Mark Walter added: "We’ve really tried to support our agent partners. With them, we’ve got so many ambassadors across the country. So if we can give them support and confidence to talk about expedition, then that’s great for us.

"Their enthusiasm to learn about expedition has been amazing. The fact they sell HX and recommend us is wonderful. We will share this experience with them. It’s important for all the company that we share this experience with them."

Steve Dunlop

Libby Gray, Branch Manager at Hays Travel Teesside Park, was one of the evening's double winners, first picking up the Manager of the Year award and later, the coveted UK & Ireland Travel Agent of the Year. “I’m speechless,” she told TTG shortly after collecting her second award. “It hasn't sunk in – it means so much.” 

Gray said the accolade was made all the more special because of recent challenges, admitting it’s been a “rollercoaster” of a year. “We’ve had the Middle East war, rivers with no water, air traffic control issues,” she said. “It’s a continuous effort to look after your business 24/7.”

Gray credited "hyper-personal" service for her success, adding she lived by a simple motto: “Look after your customers and they’ll come in.”

Explore Worldwide was another double winner, walking away with the Sustainable Travel Company of the Year and Family Holidays Provider of the Year awards. "We're super chuffed," said Agency Sales Manager Pip Baines. "It's a massive industry event so to have won two awards is just phenomenal. All the hard work too makes it more rewarding."

Baines said Explore's sustainability efforts were "absolutely core to the brand and its values". "Hannah [Methven], our sustainability manager, helped us make sure we highlighted all the ways we operate in a way that will allow our children to be able to visit the world in the same way we do.

"There are so many sustainability initiatives we're pursuing this year, from getting our carbon literacy certificate to the positive impact experiences we've introduced to create meaningful connections with people, communities and the travellers themselves."

'The industry in its true form'

Picking up the Tour Operator of the Year (Large) award, easyJet holidays' Head of Trade Distribution Natasha Marson and Chief Operating Officer Matt Callaghan said the the award was "a true reflection of all the people behind the scenes at easyJet holidays".

"We're incredibly proud to collect this on behalf of everyone," they said. "We've only been selling to the trade for six years. The shortlist we were up against was too, there were some incredible companies that deliver brilliant things for their customers so it's a real privilege and honour. It's one of the large awards so it's incredible for us so early in our journey. We want to say thanks from the bottom of our hearts."

They added: "These evenings are extra special, especially tonight in an iconic venue like The Roundhouse. It just shows the travel industry in its true form, coming together to celebrate each other and what we stand for, so there's a lot these awards stand for."

Steve Dunlop

Earlier in the night, Not Just Travel Founders Steve Witt and Paul Harrison collected the John Hays Entrepreneur of the Year award. Like Gray, Witt reflected on the challenges travel has faced in 2026.

"We started this business the day before 9/11, arguably the worst time ever to start a travel business, so we’ve only ever known the hard times. This year is probably no different in terms of adversity. We always come together in these tougher times, and today, we see the results."

Witt also touched on his relationship with Hays Travel Founder John Hays, Not Just Travel long having been a member of the Hays Travel Independence Group. "John was a true inspiration," he said. "I remember meeting him for the first time in Sunderland. I was scared to be sitting around a table with him. He had seen our sales figures and we were growing unbelievably quickly. But it was the nicest meeting ever.

"John really kick-started our journey – he joined our advisory board. And Irene [Hays] has carried it on. We talk regularly and she has made her team available to us. It is a great honour to uphold John Hays’ name."

Meanwhile, Travel Counsellors Founder David Speakman was named the 2026 Travel Legend. "I've loved what I've done," he said. "You go through life, you build a business, hopefully for all the right reasons.

"Initially you do it because you want to survive and then, soon after, because you love what you do. And if you get called a legend because you've enabled people, I'll take it. Ultimately, I'm really proud of what I've done and of leaving a footprint in the sand."

Steve Dunlop

He continued: "It's still a great industry. But it's about people, not just the industry, per se. The individuals who take a risk, who want to be entrepreneurs. I hope we can help them. I love mentoring, I love enabling, and I still get to do that. It's a joy, it's a pleasure, and it keeps me young.

"You have to believe in what you do, step forward, and take that risk. I've always done this in business. What's the worst that can happen? If it doesn't work, you've got experience. If it does, you're fulfilled and in charge of your own destiny."

Scott Lawton of Cotton Travel told TTG being named High Street Travel Agent of the Year was "totally unexpected". “I can’t put it into words how this feels – it’s just amazing,” he said. “This win isn’t a just down to me, it’s a team effort.”

As for his award’s new home, Lawton also said he would be displaying the trophy right next to the TTG Top 50 trophy Cotton Travel picked up earlier this year after it was named Top Travel Agency in Yorkshire.

Steve Dunlop

Other agent award winners on the night included Now Lets Travel's Beth Heron (New Retail Agent of the Year) and Tui's Andrew Kyte (Smarter, Better, Fairer Agent of the Year).

Heron said she couldn't believe it was real when her faced popped up on the screen. "I'm my own worst critic so I didn't think I'd win," she said. "It wasn't until I saw my manager Steph start screaming that it really kicked in for me. It was amazing."

She advised other aspiring agents: "Just to keep going, keep pushing and keep being yourself because there's nothing better than being true to yourself," she said, adding the trophy would be kept in the office so every customer sees it when they walk through the door.

Kyte said: "I'm on cloud nine. Celebrating all the well-deserved winners on the night and then hearing my name called out at the end was an unbelievable feeling. I'm so honoured, I love working with TTG and I'm so proud they keep championing me and believing in me.

"Everything I do is based on my passion and drive to make a difference. I've worked in previous places and jobs where I didn't feel seen. I didn't feel that I could be my authentic self. And I'm so proud that that I'm able to work for Tui."

He urged others: "Don't give up. Please don't give up. Keep going. I've been travel advisor for four-and-a-half years now. I absolutely love it. It's the best industry to work for. Every small meaningful action that you take can have a big difference."