19/09/2026
💜💚 Well… that was Designer Fest 2026! 💚💜
And I’m back with a slightly tired head, a bag full of information and LOTS of new ideas for your holidays! 😂✈️
It’s quite hard to explain just how much we packed into 24 hours.
Between Travel Fest and Cruise Fest, I had the chance to meet 67 different travel and cruise suppliers. Some I already work with regularly, some I’ve known for years, and others gave me completely new ideas and destinations to think about.
And that, for me, is exactly why I go to events like this.
Yes, we can all look at holidays online, but there is nothing quite like sitting down with the people who actually know the destinations, hotels, tours and ships inside out.
I can ask the questions you my clients ask me.
Which hotel would you choose for this particular couple?
Where would you send someone who has already been everywhere?
What’s new?
What’s changing?
What little gems should I know about?
And sometimes one conversation can give me an idea for a client I’m already working with.
There was a HUGE mix this year too – touring, adventure, luxury, villas, rail, long haul, Europe, Africa, Australia & New Zealand, the Caribbean and, of course, plenty of cruising. 🌍🛳️
I caught up with the likes of Easyjet, TUI, Grecotel, Ikos, Melia, Sandals, Wendy Wu, Newmarket, Audley, Exsus, G Adventures, Railbookers and many more.
Then Cruise Fest brought Celebrity, P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Virgin Voyages, Silversea, Scenic, Uniworld, AMA Waterways, Ambassador, Explora Journeys and others into the mix.
So yes… my head is FULL! 😂
Of course, Designer Fest isn't all work.
One of the things I love about being part of Designer Travel is the people. Working from home means I don't see my colleagues every day, so getting everyone together, catching up with old friends and meeting some of our newer members of the Designer family is always a big part of it for me. 💜💚
And once the work was done, we certainly made the most of the evening!
Music, dancing, casino tables, glitter, plenty of food… and then, just when nobody needed feeding ever again, Grecotel turned up with a gyros van at 11pm! 😂🇬🇷
Obviously it would have been rude not to have one...
And before Designer Fest 2026 had even finished, Designer Fest 2027 was announced, so we'll be doing it all again next year at Nailcote Hall.
For now though, it’s back to my desk and time to put some of that new-found knowledge to good use.
So if you're thinking about your next holiday, whether it's a cruise, tour, beach holiday, rail adventure, something completely different or you simply have no idea where you want to go please give me a shout.
I now have more suppliers' worth of inspiration to throw at you! 😂🌍✈️🛳️
From Nuneaton to New Zealand and anywhere in between. 💜💚
