Specialist Holidays Group confirms return of Junior Hotel Inspector programme

Specialist Holidays Group has announced the return of the popular Junior Hotel Inspector fam trip for agents and their children as it ramps up investment in the trade.

The announcement of this autumn’s second Junior Hotel Inspector trip follows news of SHG’s dedicated trade booking team, loyalty scheme and self-service agent portal, offering a wider range of bookable product across Sovereign Luxury Travel, Citalia and, for the first time, American Holidays.

The group took over the trip for the first time last year after On the Beach announced the closure of Classic Collection, which had already planned the 2025 educational, having run an initial trip with agents and their children in 2024.

More: SHG announces dedicated agent booking team and self-service portal

This year’s Junior Hotel Inspector trip is set to take place in the autumn in an as-yet-unnamed destination.

Six agents will each bring one child, who will act as a “mini hotel inspector”, rating swimming pools, menus, kids’ clubs, and other family-friendly facilities, and sharing honest feedback, while parents experience properties through their children’s eyes.

Head of trade partnerships Jorge Quibell said: “We know the Junior Hotel Inspector programme is one of the most loved initiatives in the travel industry, and we’re delighted to be bringing it back for a second year. After all, who better to review a family holiday than the little ones themselves?”

Agents can apply to go on the trip from July 17 by getting their own potential young hotel inspector to do a drawing or painting of their favourite holiday memory.

Quibell said the trip would be designed around the children, adding: “We want to make it really special.” He said the company had kept in touch with last year’s hotel inspectors and sought their help to create a Christmas video for SHG agents on social media.

Announcing the company’s increased trade investment, Quibell said the company aimed to “make booking easier” for agents. The group enjoyed a 57% year-on-year increase in trade sales in June.

It is currently recruiting for “personal travel planners” to join a hybrid agent booking team based out of its Chester and Horsham contact centres.

Its new bookable trade portal and loyalty scheme will go live before the end of the year.