The January peak period, as it is for the majority of the travel industry, is pretty full-on for us at Travel Weekly.
Just two weeks into the new year, we host the biggest leisure travel event in the industry calendar – and boy, did this year’s Globe Travel Awards live up to its billing.
On the night, we had star turns from Dame Edna Everage, Piers Morgan and The X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, but the real stars of the show are always our guests – both the suppliers who win the much-coveted awards, and the agents who vote in their thousands to reward them.
Among the glitz and glamour, a particularly special moment came as we remembered those we have lost from the industry in the past year.
You could have heard a pin drop as SuperBreak’s Graham Balmforth paid tribute to his late friend and colleague Ian Mounser, and helped us raise nearly £6,000 for this year’s Globes charity, Prostate Cancer UK.
We also honoured others including the wonderful Ian Widdowson, of Beaver Travel, who died so tragically just days before the event.
Both Ians epitomised the special people at the heart of our industry, and it was fitting to remember them at such a celebration.
In addition to this year’s Globes winners, congratulations also go to the management of The Travel Network Group, who completed their buyout of the business this week.
Let’s hope the deal is a win not just for the management but also for the members, who are promised some exciting times ahead.