Travel Village Group hosted its 2026 Conference in Blackpool from 6th – 8th May, delivering a high-impact event that combined business strategy, wellbeing, training and standout social experiences for business owners and supplier partners.
The conference opened on Wednesday with two social media masterclasses hosted by Alice Potter at AJP Studio, giving attendees practical, hands-on training ahead of the main event. The evening continued with a Meet & Mingle at BLVD hotel, setting the tone for a relaxed and connected few days.
Thursday saw the main conference take place at the Winter Gardens, beginning with a charity-focused “Run for Reuben’s” along Blackpool’s Promenade, before a full day of business updates, expert insight and open discussion.
A central moment of the conference came from Phil and Paula Nuttall’s business update, which addressed the impact of the current UAE crisis on the industry, its effect on business owners and the wider team, and the importance of maintaining a strong focus on wellbeing. The session also included a moment of reflection to remember colleagues lost this year, alongside a major announcement confirming Travel Village Group’s move from The Co-operative Travel Consortia to Brilliant Travel, part of the Barrhead Travel Group.
Business Development Managers Amanda Taylor and Leah Ormerwood led a session titled “Glow Up”, focused on wellbeing and performance. The session explored the importance of looking after yourself in order to support others, resonating strongly with attendees.
Alice Potter was welcomed to the main stage for a session focused on building a recognisable personal brand, challenging over-reliance on AI for brand concepts and highlighting the declining relevance of hashtags in modern social media strategy.
The afternoon programme featured a business owner panel hosted by Paula Nuttall and Amanda Taylor, offering honest insight into managing workload, finding time to decompress, hiring support and navigating previous industry challenges. CRM insight from Bhav Taylor at TProfile, supported by Tom Hodgin and Lee Finch, showcased new features, dynamic packaging expertise and practical tools to support compliance with evolving CMA regulations.
The day concluded with “Ask the Nuttalls”, an open and engaging session covering everything from the morning’s Brilliant Travel announcement to lighter questions, reflecting the group’s open and family-led culture.
A key focus for 2026 was increasing value for supplier partners. Tour operators were given access to all conference sessions and extended networking time through a busy trade fair schedule, creating stronger engagement across the event.
Thursday evening moved away from traditional formal entertainment, with a high-energy beach party at the Winter Gardens. With DJ Nathan Turner, singing waiters and a relaxed atmosphere, the focus was on great food, great music and great company, proving that a “big name” act is not required to deliver a memorable event. The evening also included awards, recognition and a wide range of prizes, from champagne and lifestyle vouchers to hotel stays and cruises.
During the evening, Phil Nuttall presented the Karen Hardiman CEO Award, one of the most meaningful moments of the conference. The award recognises an individual who embodies the values at the heart of the business – positivity, resilience and a genuine commitment to supporting others. This year’s recipient, Jill Tumilty, was recognised as an outstanding ambassador for Travel Village Group, praised for her unwavering support of colleagues, her deep understanding of the business and her ability to lead with warmth, honesty and positivity. With over 25 years in the industry, Jill was also highlighted for her confidence in facing challenges head-on, her support of Reuben’s Retreat and her role in championing both local businesses and the value of a trusted travel agent.
Charity remained a key part of the event, with “Run for Reuben’s” and REUBingo raising £1,887, which Travel Village Group matched to reach a total of £3,774 across the conference.
Delegates staying at the Big Blue Hotel were also given the opportunity to experience Blackpool Pleasure Beach, with complimentary tickets allowing many to take on The Big One before heading home.
The conference closed with strong engagement across all sessions, positive feedback from both business owners and suppliers, and clear momentum for the year ahead.
I don’t attend many conferences and am a tad picky if I’m honest, but you guys have one of best teams out there and this has to be one of …if not the best homeworking conf I have attended. Your business owners are all super engaging and friendly and I love working with you all
Gaynor Atherton – Latin Routes
Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for inviting us to conference, it was absolutely bloomin brilliant!
Your agents were so engaged and really wanted to speak to me at marketplace (this is quite rare) and the sessions during the day gave me a real insight to the business having only looked after you since September.
Charlotte Hughes – Princess Cruises
I wanted to extend a sincere thank you for the opportunity to attend such a fantastic conference. It was truly an excellent event.
I appreciated the opportunity to attend all of the sessions. The level of transparency across the business was both refreshing and valuable, and it gives us, as partners, a much clearer understanding of how we can best support you moving forward.
Scott Tyrer – Intrepid Travel
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for what was an absolutely brilliant couple of days. It was definitely one of the best conferences I have attended. It was made even better by being able to attend the conference sessions, which as we know, we do not always get the chance to do, and I certainly took a lot away from them myself.
Emma Rodgers – Ambassador Cruise Line
Planning is already underway for Conference 2027.
