A shortlist of five branches in each regional category, and five companies in each nationwide category, will now go head-to-head in the final, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony on 30 April at The Vox in Birmingham.
The shortlist includes five places for Hays Travel, while single-branch agencies including 2J’s Travel in Wedmore, Somerset, arrangeMY escape in Worcester, and Delmar World in Heswall, Wirral, are finalists for the first time.
Miniples including Travelmaker, Miles Morgan Travel, Baldwins Travel Group and Triangle Travel each claimed two places on the shortlist.
New for this year, nationwide finalists are invited to attend a face-to-face judging session at TTG’s office instead of a video call if possible, while assessments in high street branches will involve more of the store’s wider team.
TTG Media group editor Pippa Jacks said: “Now in its fifth year, the TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies initiative – which recognises travel retailers for customer service and innovation and not just sales – goes from strength to strength.
“With a raft of enhancements to the process based on agent feedback, this year’s search for the very best agencies in the UK and Ireland looks set to be the most exciting yet.”
The initiative is once again in partnership with Kuoni, and top winners in each of the 20 categories will be invited to send a representative on a Top 50 Champions Trip with Kuoni next year, after a successful introduction in 2019.
The shortlist was decided through rating by a wide panel of agent-facing suppliers, including tour operators, airlines, GDSs, cruise lines, and hotel companies.
Suppliers were asked to rate agents they had worked with in the last 12 months, and to consider expertise and service as well as sales performance.
See the full list of the suppliers who took part, and more details about the event and tickets here.
