Agent categories

Luxury Travel Retail Business of the Year

Sponsored by Marriott International Luxury Brands

This award seeks to recognise larger-scale, possibly hybrid-type, UK-based agency businesses focused on creating luxury-focused trips for a range of clients using a wide variety of supplier partners.

This could include high-end travel agencies who have several branches; concierge companies or membership models who have a team of travel advisors; and office-based luxury-focused agencies with a team of travel advisors – your business might also be a combination of these elements.  

Please note, if all of your team are homeworkers, and this is the main focus of your business model, you should enter one of the two luxury homeworking categories.

"We've been nominated for this award five years in a row now and this is the first time we've won so we're really happy! Everybody in our team has worked ridiculously hard and our focus on our clients and providing excellent service has paid dividends, not only in the business itself but in us winning this award"

Daniel Ox, Winged Boots, winner of Luxury Travel Retail Business of the Year 2023

Luxury Homeworking Business of the Year (Small)

Sponsored by Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort 

This category is for luxury homeworking businesses with 20 or less home-based travel consultants, and where premium and ultra-luxury travel make up a high proportion of your business. 

Please note this category is for entire agencies, not individual homeworkers.

Luxury Homeworking Business of the Year (Large)

Sponsored by Grecotel Hotels & Resorts

This category is for luxury homeworking businesses with more than 20 home-based travel consultants and where premium and ultra-luxury travel make up a high proportion of your business.  

Please note this category is for entire agencies, not individual homeworkers.

Luxury Travel Agency of the Year (sole store)

Sponsored by Celebrity Cruises

Entrants for this popular category must book predominantly higher-end travel, and have a high street presence/retail footprint in a location where customers can visit them/have a consultation in the shop.

We want to hear from stores who demonstrated flexibility, teamwork and innovation over the last 12 months to continue meeting and exceeding client expectations, and to position the business for future success. 

“We are absolutely thrilled all the hard work has paid off. Having only started in 2016, to be here at this point, with a pandemic in the way, is something we'd never have believed. These trophies will be displayed in our store in Wimbledon – we're going to need a bigger cabinet!"

Stuart and Mark Swords, Swords Travel, winner of Luxury Travel Agency of the Year (sole store) 2023 

Luxury Travel Designer of the Year

Sponsored by Pure Luxury

This category is for individual luxury travel designers from any kind of luxury agency or business – that could be a retail store, a homeworking enterprise, concierge company, or cruise specialist, for example.  

Entrants must book predominantly higher-end travel and have been in the role for two years or more.

We want to hear from those individuals who continue to shine with their demonstrated expertise and commitment to growing that; dedication to the job, their clients and the sector; and focus on creativity and resilience to always deliver wow-factor to their clients.

New Luxury Travel Designer of the Year

Sponsored by Explora Journeys

We’re looking for the newest stars of luxury travel, those professionals who are new to luxury travel design. You can be from any kind of luxury agency – that could be a retail store, homeworking enterprise, or concierge company, for example – or you could just have set up on your own.  

You must be focused on high-end travel, and have been in this role for LESS THAN TWO years; you will have started your journey as a luxury travel designer after August 2021.  

You might have set up your own business; have re-entered the sector after time away and joined an existing luxury agency; come from another sector within travel (e.g. mainstream travel, hotel, cruise, operator); or be from completely outside travel.

"I'm over the moon, just so honoured and flattered! The business is just over two years old, and now that we're starting to win awards like this, it's fantastic"

Ross Johnson, Travlux, winner of New Luxury Travel Designer of the Year 2023