On 6th December 2024, travel agents, tour operators, friends and family gathered in Blackpool to celebrate the Travel Village Group’s 65th anniversary.
The day kicked off at the home of the Tangerine Army, at Blackpool FC, for a festive trade fair. Around 80 of our team passed through the Moretti Suite, chatting with and learning from our esteemed tour operator partners. With over 30 Christmas jumper-donned suppliers on hand, to take questions from and update our sales force and business owners, it was a fantastic session for cruise, land, tour and ancillary providers.
Just a short few hours later, Christmas jumpers were ditched in favour of tuxedos, sequins and fabulous gowns, and coaches left the hotels to drive the Golden Mile up Blackpool’s Promenade. The excitement was palpable for our guests, as they grabbed a glass of fizz and headed up to the balcony for their first glimpse of the spectacular venue. The iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom dazzled with festive decorations, including two magnificent Christmas trees bookending the grand stage.
Kicking off the night in true Ballroom spirit was David Windle on the Wurlitzer, closely followed by Andy Powell and the fabulous Manchester Jazz Orchestra. After a slightly comical technical issue, Travel Village Group CEO, Phil Nuttall rose to the stage at the helm of the Wurlitzer, greeting us all with a medley of Christmas songs. Phil welcomed the room, which included the majority of the Travel Village Group team and Holiday Village business owners, friends, family, tour operator partners and technology providers.
Our surprise special guest entertainment, the incredible Betty Legs Diamond, took over the stage, dancefloor, and hearts of everyone in the room! After all… who could be more iconic to take on the fabulous Ballroom and dazzle the crowd with classic Blackpool entertainment than the OG of Funny Girls fame! Betty had the room reeling from cheeky glances, quick quips and outrageous dance moves!
Phil gave an emotional and heartfelt speech, acknowledging that wife, and Holiday Village Director, Paula was absent due to illness. He touched on the challenges that the industry has faced since and during the Covid pandemic, but looked towards the future of a stronger and more robust travel industry. The evening was a celebration of not just our 65th anniversary, but travel as a whole, and Phil recognised the fact that whilst many guests belonged to “competitor agencies” we are all in it together to create an industry that our clients can all trust.
Richard Cross and Jess Clayton introduced our two focus charities for 2025 – the National Trust’s Plant A Tree initiative, and continued support of Reuben’s Retreat. Jess Nuttall invited our Elite Sales Club members (those that have sold over £500,000, £1,000,000 or £2,000,000 since 1 December 2023) to join her on the stage, to celebrate their success and immortalise the moment with photos.
Phil retook the stage to announce the recipient of our incredibly special annual award – The CEO Karen Hardiman award – which goes to a member of the Travel Village Group who has been a shining example to everyone in the business of what it takes to be positive in the face of adversity. This year’s winner was Becky White, from our Travel Village retail shop. Becky not only guided her daughter through the heartbreak of her father’s suicide, but arranged charity events to highlight local group Solace: An Empowerment Charity, who supported them at this difficult time. And, despite arriving at the Ballroom in a wheelchair due to a recently broken ankle, she radiated her positive attitude as she rolled onto the dancefloor to receive her CEO Award AND Platinum Millionaire status award from Phil.
Local catering firm Campbell & Rowley not only provided a light lunch at our trade fair, but created an exceptional festive 3-course gala meal, and even bacon/fish finger butties to keep everyone energised on the dancefloor until late! Mowtown and soul band Stax of Soul played out the night with a full-on party finale.
Feedback & Remarks
Feedback from our Winter Wonderland has been overwhelmingly positive, and we hope that we showcased the North-West’s coastal jewel well enough to encourage more travel industry events to consider the Ballroom (in particular) as a venue for the future.
Congratulations on the 65th anniversary and thank you again Travel Village Group for a truly spectacular and totally unforgettable evening in the ballroom at Blackpool Tower.
Matt Roclawski – TTG MediaFabulous night celebrating 65 years of the Travel Village Group. Phil Nuttall, your team smashed it out of the park again.
Peter Whittle – digitaltravel.ioHugely well done to the Travel Village Group for a brilliant night celebrating 65 years of travel. An iconic venue filled with the wonderful travel family. Thank you for everything that you do.
Eithne Williamson – Princess CruisesWe so thoroughly enjoyed the Winter Wonderland in Blackpool. It had it all; a great location, fantastic entertainment, heartfelt speeches from you. Most important of all… so many wonderful friends around you. A special thank you for your sincerely warm words, for great achievers around TVG, the charities you support, Diane Court of JTA (what a powerhouse!), and I did not miss the mention you had for your tech partners (even by name). Much appreciated.
Ewout Smits – DreamlakeAbsolutely honoured to have celebrated with some of the best of the best within the awesome travel industry last night, representing Reuben’s Retreat as we marked 65 years of the fantastic Travel Village Group. A brilliant evening spent celebrating a great company with people at the heart of all they do.
Stacey Kirkpatrick – Reuben’s Retreat
Thanks go to KRS for once again providing a professional set up for the event, and our fantastic event photographers. Our popular Magic Mirror photo booth was provided by local outfit YouBooth.
