By Gilly Bachelor

I’ve had countless conversations with fellow travel professionals lately, and many are saying the same thing: ‘August and September have been tough’.

But for us? They’ve been two of the strongest months we’ve ever had — and I want to say exactly why.

Not because I want to brag… but because I firmly believe that success doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design, through relentless care, brilliant people, and with the support of clients who believe in you.

While I love it when our clients visit the office we also do home appointments. I love it when I visit Mr & Mrs H as I aways get a wonderful home-cooked lunch.

First — the facts:
  • We had a record number of clients travelling, and trips ran almost flawlessly. When problems cropped up (outside our control), we stepped in immediately — no panicking, no excuses — just solutions.
  • We smashed our sales targets — in what is usually considered the quietest time of the year.
  • Every single booking but one came from either an existing client or a referral. If you ever needed proof that service matters — there it is.
  • Bookings ranged from a 4-night break in Sliema, Malta to a multi-country tour of South East Asia.
  • Top long-haul beach destination? Maldives.
  • Top Package holiday brands? Jet2 Holidays and Tui.
  • Top European all-inclusive brand? Ikos Resorts.
  • Cruise sales? Exploding — Explora Journeys, Viking River Cruises, Mekong Delta & Halong Bay adventures, Virgin Voyages, Marella, Celebrity.
  • Top tailor-made touring destinations? USA, Canada, South Africa — and safari is absolutely booming for us.

So why is this happening for us, when so many others say it’s quiet?

I believe it comes down to four non-negotiables:
  1. We care more than most people expect: this isn’t a transactional job to us. If something goes wrong on your holiday, we don’t wait for someone else to fix it — we fix it, and we fix it fast! We carry the stress so our clients don’t have to.
  2. I have an unbelievable team behind me: Stephanie quietly keeps this business watertight — from lightning-fast admin to beautifully designed digital itineraries that our clients adore. And since joining us in June, Zappa has injected rocket fuel into our marketing — keeping us visible when many others have gone quiet.
  3. We don’t work with just anybody—only the BEST! Yes, we technically have access to over 400 travel suppliers — but we don’t just throw holidays together from whoever’s cheapest. We’ve built deep, trust-based relationships with a select few who match our standards. That’s why our trips run smoothly — because we all share the same values.
  4. Our clients are fantastic! They don’t just book and disappear — they stay, they trust, they recommend. They send their friends, their family, their colleagues. They champion us. And I will never take that lightly.

So yes – August and September were phenomenal. But success isn’t luck. It’s earned one booking at a time, one solved problem at a time, one referral at a time.

To every client who’s trusted us this year – you are the heart of this business – a huge thank you.

— Gilly