Inghams reveals how it plans to celebrate its 90th anniversary with agents

Speaking exclusively to TTG ahead of the anniversary celebrations, Franklin said: “We’re going to offer training and give agents chances to win prizes and get under the skin of our products.

“We want to shout about our 90th anniversary – it’s a big thing for us and our heritage.”

Franklin also revealed Inghams’ year-long anniversary celebrations would conclude with “a big staff party” next year.

Inghams last year announced plans to refocus its summer proposition on walking holidays to meet growing demand from Brits for these trips.

John Mansell, managing director of Inghams, Esprit Ski and Santa’s Lapland, which was named Family Holiday Provider of the Year at the Travel Industry Awards by TTG last month, highlighted how 2025 would be Inghams’ first "as a proper walking specialist".

Ahead of its 90th anniversary, Inghams has added Madonna di Campiglio in Italy and Nendaz in Switzerland to its walking programme.

"Agents are apprehensive about selling ski holidays," said Mansell. "Walking is simple. Next year is our first year as a proper walking specialist. We’ll be offering walking year-round in some destinations like Madeira. We want to offer more winter walking. 

“Ultimately, we want to be offering walking holidays wherever you can walk – nowhere is off limits. We’re giving people the opportunity to go to a ski resort and walk when they want."

Founder’s ethos

Asked how he felt to be leading Inghams into its 90th year, Mansell said: “It’s an honour to be here celebrating 90 years. There aren’t many businesses calling themselves the same name after 90 years. It’s amazing.”

He highlighted how 90 years ago, Inghams’ founder Walter Ingham had stated the importance of offering “quality” holidays with “a strong selection” of hotels. “[Ingham] said the best form of advertising is having a high number of returning guests,” he added.

Mansell pledged to grow the operator’s rail programme in France before revealing Inghams had added destinations in Norway to its walking and ski programmes for 2025. “Next year, we’re opening Morzine and Avoriaz, which can be accessed by train," he said. "We want to increase that programme."

Additional three- and four-night breaks to Lapland have also been launched, Mansell revealed. He also confirmed investment in “enhancing the customer experience”.

"We’ve invested in our technology because we want to make ourselves easy to work with,” he said, adding that this was to cut the number of welcome meetings with customers in resort.

Above and beyond

Mansell said Inghams was doing “everything” it can to protect the mountains it operates in, but added: “We hope by 2030 to have achieved a 50% emissions reduction.

"It’s a really tough thing to do. We have to reduce our carbon by 8% each year. We’re now talking to partners, overseas suppliers and hotels to make sure that we maintain that.”

He hinted Inghams may soon launch a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) initiative. “We were one of the first tour operators to voluntarily add SAF to flights on top of the what the government regulations are, so look out for news coming soon,” he said.