A Not Just Travel agent is eyeing an 18% increase in sales in 2025 – despite being set to depart on an epic 12-month trip inspired by TV show Race Across the World.
Leeds-based Dale Sidebottom said he decided to circumnavigate the globe after narrowly missing out on selection to take part in the next series of the BBC television show.
He is due to start his journey from Manchester on January 29 but plans to continue servicing existing clients and hopes social media coverage of his travels will contribute to 400 bookings in 2025, compared with 330 last year.
His trip is set to include visits to Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Mongolia, Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the US, with an Antarctic cruise also featuring in the itinerary.
“I’ve told a lot of my customers about it and they’re really excited for me,” said Sidebottom, who launched his agency in August 2021 after working for NatWest for 24 years.
The agent added: “I’ve worked really hard to build up a nice pipeline of bookings and will continue to look after my customers while I’m away, but I’ve also got a couple of buddies to help service my UK clients.”
He said he had planned incentives to help spur enquiries as he documents his trip on social media, with potential prizes including extras such as lounge access and private transfers.
Sidebottom added that his decision to embark on the venture came after he and his friend and travelling companion Lucie Mountain applied last year to take part in the next series of Race Across the World, which is due to air in April.
They were told they had been unsuccessful despite making it through a number of stages of the process, so decided to embark on a global adventure regardless.
Mountain will join Sidebottom for the first three months of the journey, before returning to run her catering business.
The finale of Sidebottom’s trip will be a cruise over Christmas and New Year on Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess, departing from Buenos Aires and incorporating the Antarctic Peninsula.
Two months earlier, he will indulge his interest in horse racing with a visit to the Breeders’ Cup in California, where he will be joined by friends and clients.