Advantage Travel Partnership members to surpass £17bn in global turnover again

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said has revealed members’ global turnover is set to surpass £17 billion for the second year in a row, with the UK figure on track to be greater than £9 billion.

 

The figures were shared during the partnership’s annual Big Celebration Lunch in London, where Lo Bue-Said hailed an “exceptionally strong” performance in 2025.

 

She said: “It’s been a year of significant progress as a business – and, most importantly, another year where we’ve seen our members continue to flourish, with many expanding into new locations and sectors, driving growth in what has been a genuinely positive trading environment.”

 

She noted that “many” new members had joined this year and described the organisation’s expansion as “incredibly important”, adding: “It ensures we retain our scale and commercial leverage across all sectors we operate within.”

 

Members had successfully navigated a series of challenges this year, she said, including geopolitical uncertainty, “unprecedented” weather patterns and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

 

“Despite these headwinds, people’s desire for travel continues to thrive,” she added.

 

Building relationships with politicians remains a “key priority”, she said, with the UK Outbound Travel Group having visited nearly 100 MPs this year.

 

“That’s 100 MPs who are building an understanding of their local travel business – which is key to supporting our aim of amplifying the profile of our sector and growing the understanding of the vital role we play in the UK economy,” she said.

 

The partnership’s recently rebranded corporate identity marked a “bold step forward”, she told attendees.

 

She praised the “exceptional” people and organisations that the partnership relies on and congratulated the winners of the annual awards.

 

She added: “Looking around this room, I see the extraordinary depth of expertise, passion and commitment assembled here. Every one of you embodies the vibrant energy that has elevated our industry into the economic powerhouse it is today.”

 

Lunch guests were invited to contribute donations to Sebby’s Corner, a charity supporting vulnerable families and children living in poverty across London and the south-east.

Full list of award winners:

 

• Member Innovator of the Year: Abbie Harmison (Dawson and Sanderson)
• Innovation Award – Leisure Travel: Celebrity Cruises
• Innovation Award – Business Travel: Travelogix
• Tour Operator of the Year: Gold Medal; highly commended: easyJet holidays
• Airline of the Year: British Airways
• Accommodation Partner of the Year: Expedia TAAP
• Technology Partner of the Year: Vertical Systems
• Ancillary Partner of the Year: Holiday Extras
• Most Engaged Latitude Member: Telina Lawrence (The Travel Professionals)
• Latitude Partner of the Year: Princess Cruises; highly commended: AmaWaterways
• Trade Support Team of the Year: Tui; highly commended: Jet2 Holidays
• Destination Partner of the Year: Visit Malta
• Best Marketing Initiative or Campaign: Global Travel Management
• Cork Bays & Fisher Partner of the Year: Travel & General
• Most Engaged Advantage Global Network Partner: Kim Renouf (Continental Travel Canada)
• The Advantage Advocate of the Year: Dean Mitchell (ATPI)
• Travel as a Force for Good Champion: Scott Pawley (Global Travel Management)
• Emerging Talent Award: Emily Whitehouse (DGI Travel); highly commended: Bonni Hughes – The Good Travel Agent
• Talent Nurturer of the Year: Sunlounger Travel
• Spotlight Award: Tony Mann (Idle Travel)
• Shining Star: Lindsay Miller (Inspire)