Last week our co-founder Steve Witt was a guest speaker at the UK travel industry’s flagship event – the ABTA Travel Convention in Calvià, Mallorca.
It’s the annual gathering where senior professionals gather to network, share insights and debate the future of travel.
And the good news for anyone considering joining the industry?
Demand for travel is booming.
ABTA’s latest research shows that on average, people took 3.9 trips in the past year, with almost nine in ten heading off on holiday in 2025 — the biggest proportion since 2019.
Despite financial pressures on households, holidays are still the purchase people prioritise over consumer goods such as new technology and eating out.
And there’s even better news if you’ve been considering launching your own travel agency.
Confidence in travel agents has never been higher with more holidaymakers appreciating their expertise.
Customers say they enjoy better holidays when they book with one. In fact, 34% of respondents booked through a travel professional in the past 12 months.
Looking ahead, the outlook is even brighter. 87% of people say they will take a holiday in the next year. That’s a rise on previous years.
Steve Witt predicts this is a clear sign that Peaks 2026 will be one of the busiest yet.
“We’re telling our consultants to clear their diaries,” he says. “Be prepared to be busier than ever from January to March – the time when agents traditionally sell four times more holidays.”
And with good reason. 2025 has already been one of the most successful years yet.
Franchisees have earned record commissions. They’ve won awards. And more than ever have beaten our unique Money-Back Challenge (we’re still the only company that refunds your franchise fee if you reach a set commission in your first year).
So if you’ve been waiting for the right time to launch your own travel business, the time is now.
Check out our remaining training sessions in 2025 to launch your business before January 2026
* ABTA’s report is based on research with a nationally representative sample of 2,001 UK adults and was carried out from 21 July-1 August 2025.
