For the second year in a row, The Travel Franchise has been named Best Lifestyle Franchise in the World at the 2025 Global Franchise Awards in Las Vegas.
This recognition places the business at the very top of the global franchise industry and reinforces what hundreds of franchisees already experience every day: a model designed not just to generate income, but to create genuine lifestyle change.
The Global Franchise Awards are hosted annually by the International Franchise Association (IFA), the largest and most influential franchise body in the world. The awards form part of its prestigious annual convention in Las Vegas and are judged by senior franchise leaders, CEOs and industry experts from across multiple sectors. Competition is intense, with franchise brands from around the world vying for a small number of global titles. Winning once is a major achievement. Winning twice in succession reflects consistency, resilience and a model that continues to stand out under scrutiny.
This year, co-founder Steve Witt attended the ceremony in Las Vegas to accept the award on behalf of the company. Reflecting on the achievement, he said:
“We built The Travel Franchise to give ordinary people the opportunity to create extraordinary lifestyles. To be recognised as the Best Lifestyle Franchise in the world for the second year running shows that what we’ve created truly stands apart.”
What began as a way to help people launch home-based travel businesses has grown into a multi-million-pound operation with more than 650 UK franchisees. However, what the judges recognised extends beyond commercial success. The defining factor is the lifestyle flexibility and structured support that underpin the model.
Franchisees are able to build part-time incomes that often reach £40,000 within their first year, while others scale to six-figure earnings as they transition full-time. Teachers, NHS professionals, corporate employees and parents have used the model to move away from high-pressure roles and regain control over their schedules and earning potential. For many, the greatest reward is not simply financial growth but the ability to shape work around life rather than the other way around.
The Travel Franchise continues to evolve to make the opportunity more accessible and achievable. The Money-Back Challenge remains one of the boldest guarantees in franchising, allowing franchisees to receive their £14,995 franchise fee refunded if they hit a set commission target within their first year. A record number of franchisees have recently completed the challenge, demonstrating the strength of the training and support available.
Franchisees also benefit from overseas mentorship retreats with hands-on guidance from the founders, as well as dedicated Franchise Consultants who provide ongoing strategic support. More recently, the introduction of the Lite Package has created a lower-entry route for individuals who want to begin building their travel business at a commercially sensible pace while still accessing mentorship and structure. This addition widens the opportunity without diluting the quality of support.
For those exploring whether this path is right for them, The Travel Franchise Hour offers a transparent overview of how the business works, what can realistically be earned and how quickly someone can get started. The emphasis is on clarity rather than exaggeration.
Behind the global recognition are hundreds of personal success stories. Parents building businesses around family life. Professionals leaving demanding careers behind. Franchisees travelling while running their operations remotely. Many describe the same turning point: the moment they realised they did not have to choose between income and lifestyle.
Brand ambassador Eamonn Holmes OBE summarises it well: “So many consultants have chosen to retrain and start something completely different. If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life – and travel is a magical thing.”
Being named Best Lifestyle Franchise in the World for the second year running is more than a title. It is independent validation that the model delivers on both income and lifestyle, and that the structure supporting franchisees is robust and scalable. For those considering joining, it offers reassurance that they would be stepping into a globally recognised business with proven foundations.
The award may have been collected in Las Vegas, but its impact is felt much closer to home, in the lives of the people building their futures through the business every day.
