Owner Hannah Porter, a member of the TTG 30 Under 30 Class of 2022, said she wanted her business's fifth anniversary to be a celebration to remember.
“I wanted to take a minute to take in the past five years,” she told TTG. “We opened during the pandemic, and it’s been a whirlwind! Coming as far as we have is a real testament to my team, family, customers – everyone!”
Travel by Hannah was named TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies Top Agency – South West in 2022 and went on to be named in the Top 50 again in 2023 before landing the top prize – the UK & Ireland's Number One Travel Agency – in 2024.
The celebration on Thursday (18 December) was held at Marlborough Town Hall and started with the agency’s first-ever client event – an afternoon of relaxed networking over fizz and cake between the agency’s customers.
The invite-only event was just for those clients who have booked with Travel by Hannah, and featured 22 preferred suppliers from easyJet Holidays to Audley Travel to help inspire their next trip.
Attendees had to fill out their own passport, designed to capture data for suppliers (Credit: Hannah Porter)
To access the event clients needed a ticket, which was complemented by an "event passport" designed by Porter as a way to capture data for suppliers. This was followed by an evening celebration, with more clients, suppliers, friends and family – intended as “more of a thank you”.
The theme was “winter glam with the ability to dance”, and there was a live band, a bar, a photo booth, a sunglasses accessorising station, and some discreet supplier stands, but the focus was on having a good time. In total, more than 300 people attended.
A select few suppliers were at the event (Credit: Hannah Porter)
"We had a yellow weather warning, and our clients still managed to come in and support us, which was really lovely," Porter continued. "We have a close relationship with them – we have a 68% repeat booking rate and a 35% referral rate – so we wanted to put them at the centre of this celebration.
"It was like a movie, at one point. I had 50 pizzas delivered at about 9.30pm, and I've never seen people so happy," Porter said. "They were wearing their sunglasses and dancing with their pizza boxes! It was a fabulous toast to everything we've done this year."
Celebrations were heightened with a surprise "Outstanding Contribution" award, presented by safari specialist African Pride in the evening.
The agency was surprised with an award from African Pride at the event (Credit: Hannah Porter)
"It is an honour to present this very well-deserved award and recognition for Hannah," said African Pride director David Holland. "This afternoon's event was one of the best I have been to in many a year. Keep doing what you do – it works."
Asked about the future, Porter said she thought there was “a real art in not over promising". “It’s been another great year for us, and personally, I’m celebrating having had my son, too," she said.
"We are really happy with how much we’ve done since starting with just one person – me – to a team of five (including some part-time roles). We tripled our turnover in our first two years and have maintained healthy growth since.
“I wouldn’t rule out another shop, but that’s not in our immediate plans. I love our current site so much, although it is only four by five metres, so I can’t actually fit another desk in there!”
