But this time next week it will finally become a reality, when on Wednesday March 29 Theresa May triggers Article 50, firing the figurative starting gun on Brexit.

We face at least another two years of debate in Westminster and the media – for despite the nation having discussed little else since the referendum, it seems no one is any clearer as to what Brexit will really mean for any of us, or the economy at large. For the World Travel and Tourism Council, the outlook appears worrisome. “Outbound travel to take the hit”, it declared this week, as it forecast higher inflation and weakened consumer spending prospects.

But we’ve been here before. I’m a proud Remainer, and yet I admit the apocalyptic predictions, not least by then chancellor George Osborne, that the UK economy would fall off a Brexit cliff in the wake of a Leave vote, have yet to materialise. Conversely, just last week, nine months after the referendum, the British Chambers of Commerce forecast the UK economy is instead likely to grow 1.4% in 2017 – a faster rate than the 1.1% growth it suggested in December.

Last year showed us that no matter how great the global economic uncertainty or political turmoil, good businesses can continue to thrive – and the TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies, revealed at last week’s ceremony in Birmingham, are testament to this. In a survey of those shortlisted, 88% reported 2016 as a record year. And the elation and positivity at the awards last Monday showed that for the nation’s best agencies, 2017 looks set to be just as successful.

We may not know what the next two years will bring, but we can be certain that the innovation, dedication and customer service that wowed the TTG team while visiting our finalists will ensure agencies keep thriving.

In this week’s TTG, the B word stands for something else: brilliant businesses that are booming… EU or no EU.