74 | TRADE NEWS Flying the Flag
Northern Ireland’s Savannah Bracewell Named in TTG’s Top 30 Under 30
BY KIRSTY JOHNSTON
Kirsty@nitravelnews.com
SAVANNAH Bracewell, from Ballymena-based travel agency Travelmax, has earned a prestigious spot in TTG’s Top 30 Under 30, and she’s still taking it all in. The recognition,
which
highlights rising stars in the travel industry across the UK, came as a surprise to Savannah, who is also the only nominee from Northern Ireland this year. “I’m still in a wee bit of shock,” she admits with a smile. “It doesn’t feel real that someone like me, working in a smaller, independent business, has been recognised alongside people from huge companies and big tour operators.” Savannah’s journey to the list began with an application and a nerve-wracking 60-second video submission. “I’m used to making social media videos, so I wasn’t too worried about being on camera, but keeping it under the time limit was the hard part! One version was so fast I sounded like a chipmunk,” she laughs. “Eventually I realised I didn’t need to list every achievement. I just needed to be myself.” After being shortlisted to the top 60, she received the news that she had officially made the cut, and soon found herself travelling to London to meet the rest of her cohort and visit the
TTG offices.
The experience has opened up new opportunities for Savannah,
who now looks
forward to a year filled with networking events, mentoring, and professional development through TTG. But for her, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience is being able to make her family proud. “Being part of a family- run travel business means everything we do reflects on each other. My mum and dad are over the moon,” she says. “Knowing they’re proud makes it all the more special.” And representing Northern Ireland adds an extra layer of pride. “I honestly didn’t realise I was the only nominee from here. There’s so much young talent in Northern Ireland, so it came as a surprise, but I’m proud to wave the flag.”
Her advice to other young professionals
considering
applying? “Go for it. If you really care about this industry and you’re in it to make a difference, then you belong in the room. Even if you don’t make it first time, don’t give up, some of the people in my group applied more than once. Just keep trying.” Savannah’s story is one of determination,
authenticity,
and a love for the travel industry that shines through. It’s clear she’s not only a name on a list, but a name to watch.
Record Agent Demand Sparks Wendy Wu Tours’ Biggest-Ever India & Central Asia Collection
WENDY Wu Tours has expanded its India & Central Asia collection for 2026/27, adding three new tours after reporting a 70% year-on-year surge in bookings and record agent demand for bucket-list adventures. The expanded collection introduces three blockbuster
tours – Southern India & Sri Lanka, Best of Mongolia, and Beyond the Brahmaputra – alongside a line-up of bestselling favourites.
EasyJet Announces New UK Country Manager
EASYJET has confirmed it has appointed a new UK country Manager following the retirement of previous UK Country Manager, Ali Gayward. Having been with the company from 2006, Kevin
Doyle will take on the role, where he will report directly to easyJet Group Markets Director, Thomas Haagensen, and will have direct access to teams working across the UK’s 10 bases. Bringing experience from across the brand in departments such as safety and operational practices, planning and policy, Doyle said, “I’m proud to be stepping into this key role for easyJet, bringing my extensive operational experience to what is a hugely exciting position.”
www.nitravelnews.com Türkiye Records Sustainable Growth in Tourism Figures
TÜRKIYE has demonstrated sustainable growth across key metrics, with notable resilience and spending power among visitors.
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the Republic of Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, said: “Despite many geopolitical challenges that have happened in the first half of the year, Türkiye continued its sustainable growth in the tourism industry. Our strategic focus on diversifying our destinations, products, and source markets is proving effective.” Ersoy continued, “Looking ahead to the next six months, we are confident that we will meet our year-end target of US $64 billion (£48.6 billion) in tourism revenues.”
September/October 2025
Jet2holidays Confirm Reschedule of Annual Conference
JET2HOLIDAYS it will reschedule its annual VIP Travel Agent Conference.
Traditionally taking place towards the end of November, the agent conference is now expected to take place in early 2026. Jet2holidays said it made the decision in consultation with agency and industry partners. No further details have been announced
about the new date, but Alan Cross, Director of Travel Agent Relationships at Jet2holidays has assured agents that further information will be revealed. He said: “Having spoken to so many partners, rescheduling our conference reflects what we believe is a better fit for you and for the industry as a whole. It gives everyone more breathing room to plan effectively, ensuring the event is as valuable and relevant as possible for you, your teams, and your business. We’re confident this will help us deliver, as usual, an experience that’s truly worth the wait. It also acts as another springboard in the build up to summer to get together, have meaningful discussions, and head into the peak summer season charged up and ready to grow our businesses together.” Jet2holidays will host its first ever Non-Retail Summit for non-retail and home-based workers on 11th September.
Riviera Travel Announces Appointment of Key Account Manager
RIVIERA Travel have announced the appointment of Gemma Ashworth as Key Account Manager, succeeding Amanda Docherty in leading the company’s home-based trade agent partnerships. Home-based agents remain a vital part of Riviera Travel’s success and future growth. Under Amanda Docherty’s leadership, this channel has flourished, building a loyal and engaged community of agents and seeing a year-on-year growth of 30%. Amanda Docherty commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Gemma to our fantastic trade team. She brings a wealth of experience, but more importantly, she’s a true people person. I’m confident she’ll make the role her own, and her personality will be a perfect match for the team.”
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