Top agents and agencies honoured at 2023 Agent Achievement Awards

Scroll down for the full list of winners!

Agents and agencies from across the UK and Ireland have been honoured at the 2023 Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards in London.

The event, held in partnership with headline sponsor Virgin Atlantic for the third year, took place at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel with more than 700 guests in attendance.

The coveted awards were presented by TV and radio favourite Mark Wright alongside Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley, while entertainment was provided by ex-Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle and star of musical theatre Ricardo Afonso.

Coveted individual awards included Leisure Agent of the Year, won by The Travel Snob’s David Walker; Leisure Manager of the Year, won by Barrhead Travel’s Sean Buckley; Young Leisure Agent of the Year, won by Barrhead Travel’s Olivia Davies; and Agency Support Team Member of the Year, won by Julie Cloe from Dawson and Sanderson.

Multiple award winners included Hays Travel, which won the Large Agency category in the North East and London and the South East in addition to the national High Street Agency of the Year award.

Barrhead Travel was named best large agency in Scotland, in addition to Davies and Buckley’s awards.

Travel Counsellors was named Best Large Agency to Work For, large Sustainable Champion of the Year, and large Homeworking Company of the Year.

Cartwright Travel was named Small High Street Agency of the Year, having won the regional award for South West England and South Wales, while the national small homeworking and call centre/online agency awards were won by Travelosophers and Iglu.com respectively.

Outstanding Contribution honours went to Althams Travel managing director Sandra McAllister and Fred Olsen Travel managing director Steve Williams, while Perfect Getaways Isle of Man picked up the One to Watch Award.

The Mental Health Matters award was won by Adele Barnacle, from The Travel Village, while the small Sustainability Champion of the Year category was won by ArrangeMYEscape.

Winners’ reaction

Outstanding achievement award winner Steve Williams, managing director Fred Olsen Travel

“This is all dedicated to the people in my business. I’m so lucky to have been able to attract some really nice people and take the business forward in the time I have been here. I don’t normally seek the limelight or the applause but it is so lovely to get that recognition”

Leisure Manager of the Year, Sean Buckley of Barrhead Travel’s Northwich branch

“I’m overwhelmed. I can’t believe I’ve been nominated and I’ve won. My team is amazing – it’s all down to my team. We’re a family. We all work together, we support each other, we have a laugh, we’re honest with each other and we want to do the best that we can”

Leisure Agent of the Year, The Travel Snob’s David Walker

“I’m completely overwhelmed as I really wasn’t expecting this. It feels really good to win. I never try to be anyone I’m not and I think my clients respect that. I love all my clients, who I treat like my friends – and because I see them as friends, I always want to make sure their holidays are as good as possible.

Over the years I’ve made a lot of friends in the industry through coming to awards like this who are always up for a party, so I’m going to go and celebrate this award with them now”

Young Agent of the Year, Olivia Davies of Barrhead Travel

“I am absolutely over the moon, I can’t believe it. I only joined Barrhead in September so I’ve not even been there a year. I used to be a nail technician and I’d never even been on holiday before I joined Barrhead so to win is an amazing achievement, I’m so happy.”

Agency Support Team Member of the Year winner Julie Cloe of Dawson & Sanderson:

“It means a lot to win this and to be recognised for what I do. My main focus in my role is on apprentices and to be given the opportunity at work to focus on training and development at work is so rewarding”

Agent Achievement Awards 2023 winners

National Agencies of the Year

Regional Agency of the Year Awards