TTG’s flagship awards ceremony welcomed more than 800 guests to the historic venue in Camden, which has witnessed performances from era-defining acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.

TV favourite Dermot O’Leary was on hosting duties for the ceremony, which saw Gold Medal named UK & Ireland Travel Company of the Year. The trade-only brand also scooped Agents’ Choice – Large, awarded to the best trade support teams comprising 11 or more staff.

Designer Travel’s Emma Parry-Thorpe claimed UK & Ireland Travel Agent of the Year after earlier bagging Home-based Travel Agent of the Year, while Hays Travel chief Dame Irene Hays was honoured as this year’s recipient of The Travel Legend Award.

Addressing the audience after accepting the prestigious accolade, Dame Irene said: "I feel humbled being among so many talented, gifted people. I have to say, and it would perhaps be awry not to, this is for the team at Hays Travel."

Dame Irene also paid tribute to her late husband, John, who founded Hays Travel: "I stood on the shoulder of a giant, the lovely John Hays," she added, to rapturous applause.

(Credit: Steve Dunlop / TTG)

Earlier in the ceremony, Dame Irene and daughter Helen Hays presented The John Hays Entrepreneur Award to Latin Routes co-founders Martin Johnson and Jess Dennison, while Women In Travel CIC founder, Alessandra LoTufo Alonso, was named this year’s Diversity Trailblazer.

Other big winners on the night included Intrepid Travel, which claimed the Best Place to Work in Travel Award and Touring & Adventure Operator of the Year, and Tui, which took away Accessible Holidays Provider of the Year and Family Holidays Provider of the Year.

High Street Travel Agent of the Year was won by Oasis Travel’s Nicole McKittrick, with Luke Nicol – who leads Hays Travel’s Leeds White Rose branch – named Manager of the Year.

Meanwhile, Gillian Williams from Travel Village Group was crowned Cruise Expert of the Year, while Travel Chaps co-owner Ashley Phillips became the new Touring & Adventure Expert of the Year.

See the full list of winners on the night

Gold Medal managing director Simon Applebaum said: "These aren't just two of the biggest awards of the night, they're two of the biggest awards of the whole year. I don't know how to process it.

"We have amazing competition – there are people out there that sell the same products we do and do a fantastic job so we always have to be on our game. So to be recognised like this, it means a huge amount to me. And it goes so far in Leyland where we have 250 people who tirelessly, sometimes thanklessly, because I can't always give out credit individually. This validates what they do.

"We talk to agents constantly in myriad ways. They mean the world to us. And nights like this make it all really special. Recognition matters. Will we be seeking to defend these trophies? We will do our absolute best to keep looking after our travel agents and what will be will be. We're up for the challenge."

(Credit: Steve Dunlop / TTG)

Intrepid Travel took away Touring & Adventure Operator of the Year for a second year in succession, and also picked up the Best Place to Work in Travel Award.

"Agents are at the heart of everything we do," said head of industry partnerships Carrie Grant. "We ask them to support us, to believe in our mission, in our sustainability credentials. And this is the point where we say – thank you so very much to all of our agent partners. You believed in us and the results are here."

Reflecting on the Best Place to Work in Travel accolade, Intrepid's head of people EMEA Adolfo Penzato added: "We create a framework to nurture employees, but culture is ultimately created by employees themselves. This award hopefully recognises how we put all those resources in place, but it's because of the team we have won this award."

(Credit: Steve Dunlop / TTG)

Designer Travel's Emma Parry-Thorpe said she felt “overwhelmed” after being named both Home-based Travel Agent of the Year and later UK and Ireland Travel Agent of the Year. “I didn’t even know there was a second award! I’m very happy.” She attributed her win to "hard work, looking after clients and seeking out marketing opportunities” before revealing she’d be displaying her two trophies in her garden office at home in the Lake District.

Other agents winning big on the night included Hays Travel's Luke Nicol, Oasis Travel's Nicole McKittrick and Travel Village Group's Gillian Williams. Nicol was named Manager of the Year and McKittrick High Street Travel Agent of the Year. Williams, meanwhile, picked up Cruise Expert of the Year.

Nicol revealed he'd been wanting to win his particular award for his whole 20-year career to date. “I feel on top of the world to win Manager of the Year," he said. "I’m so proud of everyone who’s got us to this place, including my dad and my assistant managers – they absolutely drive the team."

McKittrick said her win felt "so surreal".  “It took a few seconds after my name came up for it to sink in," she said. "I’m just a girl who goes into work and sells holidays, and has a great time doing it. I've had a lot of self-doubt because the travel industry moves so fast, you’ve got amazing people with years of experience. But you have to put yourself out there – you’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Williams, meanwhile, talked TTG through the story behind her nomination. "One of my colleagues asked me if she could put me forward for this and if I minded," she said. "I went through the process and did the interview, which was hilarious.

"My dog had a starring role because someone knocked on the door and he went mad so he came and sat on my knee for the rest of it. I thought he had scuppered my chances, but I will go home and give this to him.

"I put my win down to relationships. The relationships with the partners makes me successful. I'm so grateful. I love everything I do every day."