C&M Travel Recruitment outlines expansion plans as it predicts ‘more positive’ 2026

C&M Travel Recruitment plans to launch in international markets and into a new travel-related sector in 2026 as it predicts a “more positive” travel jobs market in 2026.

 

Managing director Barbara Kolosinska said the travel recruitment firm had “exciting plans” to expand into the US, Europe and Australia next year.

 

She said: “We’ve had success with some clients in those locations in recent months and we want to delve deeper to grow those areas.”

 

She also hinted at further launches with an announcement soon, adding: “We’re looking to expand our team next year and explore a vertical market related to travel.”

 

After a year of “highs and lows” for the travel recruitment sector, Kolosinska said she was confident 2026 would get off to a busy start despite the recent Budget and continued extra cost pressures on employers.

 

“All signs indicate that it [2026] will be a more positive one. From speaking to our clients in the travel industry, as well as other members of The Recruitment Network (TRN), most are quietly optimistic,” she said.

 

But she admitted some businesses remained cautious.

 

She said: “Now that that the impact of the Budget has been absorbed, companies will be more likely to recruit. However, some businesses are still cautious, so we’re finding more are taking on temporary staff as this is a very cost-effective, risk-free way of upskilling talent until they are in a better position to take on permanent staff.”

 

January was likely to be busy as it is a “notoriously hectic month for new roles and new candidates”, she said, adding: “This does of course mean there will also be more competition for the top candidates.”

 

She made the comments following a year of “shifting salary trends to changing hiring patterns”.

 

According to C&M’s Travel Salary Index for the first half of 2025, travel salaries are still rising, but the 3.1% rise this year is a much-reduced rate than previously. In the first six months of 2024 the rise was 12.86% and in 2023 it was 12.58%.

 

The company said the average new job in travel now paid £38,919 but stressed there were vast differences across different pay grades.

 

Wages for standard travel jobs, paying below £40,000, fell by 1.56%, while salaries for senior roles, those paying £40,000 and above, rose by 7.39% in 2025. There was also a large increase in the number of roles paying £60,000 or above.

 

In terms of the number of job candidates, openings and placements, all saw a slight decrease of 6% in the first half of 2025.

 

The company also reported on a widening in the gender pay gap in 2025.

 

C&M’s latest figures showed the typical female in the sector earned 13.8%, or £5,238, less than a male equivalent last year – up from an 11.15% gap in the previous 12 months.

 

It attributed the gap being a result of the top end of the travel industry remaining male-centric, with men out-earning women by 23.8% for roles paying £60,000 and above.

 

Kolosinska said the pay gap meant the issue had to be a focus for the coming year.

 

She added: “With the gender pay gap growing, it’s clear we can’t be complacent about this issue. We need to support and promote the great female talent in our industry so they can be elevated to some of the most senior roles in our sector – this needs to be a focus for us in the New Year.”