The Ballymena-based agency, which marks its own 25th anniversary this year, secured a hat-trick on the night after picking up the Tui Community Hero Award before later being crowned Top Travel Agency in Northern Ireland.

Judges praised the team for their commitment to supporting their community, their efforts to champion more responsible travel and their drive to make their service more accessible and inclusive.

Speaking on stage as they accepted the top accolade on the night, Travelmax founder Maxine Bracewell and her daughter Savannah said: "Wow – we were not prepared for this. We're a family business, there's only us and we take it to the max wherever we can.

"We're so privileged to be part of this incredible business. This business rides through every challenge thrown its way. You never give up. You keep the fire going, you keep the passion. Anybody who is involved in travel, they're not in it for the money, they're in it for the passion."

The Top 50 ceremony, hosted in association with Wavemaker Hospitality, was once again held at Manchester's Victoria Warehouse, with guests enjoying performances from comedian Russell Kane and saxophonist Ellie Sax.

See the full list of agencies making the TTG Top 50 this year

To mark TTG Top 50's tenth anniversary, representatives from former UK & Ireland’s No.1 Travel Agency winners took to the stage as the ceremony got under way to share their reflections on what Top 50 success has meant for their businesses.

There was also a powerful address from Kuoni’s Lauren King, who founded child bereavement support service Bebe’s Hive following the death of her daughter Bebe in the 2024 Southport attack. Bebe’s Hive is TTG Media’s chosen fundraising cause for 2026, and £5,500 was raised for the community interest company over the course of the evening.

(Credit: Steve Dunlop Photography)

"Bebe was pure of heart," said Lauren. "She was the child who noticed the one standing on the edge, the one who would gently take their hand and bring them in. She didn't like anyone feeling left out.

"When Bebe died, the silence was overwhelming. But so was the realisation that grieving children are often left to navigate loss quietly. Adults don't always know what to say. Systems don't always know what to provide. So Bebe's Hive is how we will carry her nature forward."

Find out how the new TTG Top 50 earned their place on the list

Blue Bay Travel chief Alistair Rowland was the recipient of this year’s Contribution to Travel Award for his long-standing commitment to the agency sector, while Barrhead Travel consultant Vicky Jones was named Intrepid Responsible Travel Champion for using her personal experience to drive greater understanding for disabled travellers and customers.

Elsewhere, Iglu scooped two awards, taking home Top Ocean Cruise Agency and Top Ski & Snowsports Agency, while the Top Homeworking Agency titles were shared between Designer Travel (Large) and The Holiday Village (Small).

(Credit: Steve Dunlop Photography)

Travelmax owner Maxine Bracewell, speaking to TTG shortly after collecting the UK and Ireland's No.1 trophy, said: "I've been in travel since 1984 and it's our 25th year in business so it's amazing and overwhelming to be recognised. I eat, sleep and bleed this business. I love and treat all our clients the same, regardless of what they spend."

She credits self-belief for the agency's success. “When I started Travelmax, I decided to name it after myself," Maxine continued. "And my husband asked me, ‘is that not a bit pompous?’. I said no – it means maximum value, maximum service, maximum choice. We take it to the max."

Daughter Savannah explained the Top 50 process helped the team reflect on their efforts. "I didn’t realise how much we’d done for the community before we entered TTG Top 50," she said. "After I applied, I brought the office together to read to them what we’d just submitted. We sat back and thought, ‘Oh, wow, that’s actually a lot'. But it's just how we operate.”

Fittingly, travel is likely to be at the heart of the team's plans to celebrate. “We joked on the plane over about taking direct flights from Manchester to the Caribbean,” Maxine revealed. “Now, that might actually be on the cards!"

'This is a vibrant industry'

Contribution to Travel winner Rowland, who stepped down as chair of Abta last year, reflected on the uniquely tough hand he was dealt. "It's a tough gig. It was the backend of the Monarch failure, then the Thomas Cook failure, then Covid – we were trying to keep the industry alive," he told TTG.

Rowland said protecting and rebuilding the Co-op's travel operation ranked among his proudest achievements. "I'm probably best known for surviving the Thomas Cook takeover," he continued. "We rebuilt it within Midcounties, and Co-op is still a fabulous brand today. It was a real journey."

(Credit: Steve Dunlop Photography)

In 2020, Rowland joined Blue Bay, which was named Top Online Agency, and embarked on a new growth mission. "There will be a lot of people in that room I will be thanking too," he added. "I've worked in many industries – energy, healthcare, funeral and travel. This is a vibrant industry. Lots of people come into travel from these industries, and very few leave.

"It's odd because you're not selling a tangible product, but the whole service culture means a lot. You can land anywhere in travel and be in it for life. You might change job five or six times, but once you're in, you're never going to leave."

'A right tough couple of months'

Hays Travel Teesside Park was among the regional champions after being named Top Travel Agency – North East. "I'm on cloud nine," said branch manager Libby Gray. "I messaged all my team immediately. The group chat's going off and everyone's just thrilled."

Gray said she was looking forward to sharing the agency's success with its clients. "They've been wishing us loads of good luck. We put customers at the heart of everything we do, we look after them from beginning to end – that, for me, is just everything.

(Credit: Steve Dunlop Photography)

"It's been a right tough couple of months, with everything going on in the world, but this win is testament to my fabulous team. Everything we've achieved this year has been phenomenal, and every year we get bigger."

Gray added any agencies thinking about entering Top 50 should make the leap. "Being able to advertise the fact we're an award-winning agency is proof we care about our customers," she said. "Just apply, start shouting about your service, about how well you look after customers – it will bring you more business."

'It's amazing to watch others succeed'

Elsewhere, Cotton Travel was named Top Travel Agency – Yorkshire. "I felt every emotion in my body when they read out our company's name," said Josh Cotton, owner of the Cottingham agency.

"When this goes back to Yorkshire, the team are going to be thrilled – this is for all of their hard work. It’s my vision, my passion, but it’s their determination as much as mine. We’ll be so proud of this award.

"Key things that will have stood out for the judges is our commitment to service, our above and beyond ethos. We really live and breathe in everything we do. Our sustainability work, and our growth – we’ve grown massively, and we’re not even three years old.

"It’s so nice to see so many of our peers and professional friends celebrating together. Win or lose, we all support each other. It’s just amazing to watch others succeed, and this event brings that together."

Cotton added Russell Kane's turn brought the levity needed at "a serious time". "It was needed," he said. "It’s been really tricky out there, lots of serious conversations, the news isn’t great, we all know that. To come to an event like this and let your hair with such good entertainment, it was brilliant."

'We've really upped our game this year'

Magic Vacations, meanwhile, claimed Top Travel Agency – Republic of Ireland. "This is absolutely fantastic for the entire team," said owner John Barrett. "You give your whole heart to the TTG Top 50 process, from entering to the judges visiting – it’s very thorough.

"We introduced our MV Academy this year, which was all about staff training and wellbeing. That was the backbone of what we introduced this year and is really important to us. Plus, we’ve had a laser focus on our customer service, introducing new technology. We’ve really upped our game this year.

“We’re very big on social: MVTV, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook. We said if we won we’d team up with one of our cruise partners to give away a cruise to push the message that we’ve won top agent. Me and the team just love what we do. This is just incredible.”