Pippa Williscroft

This month's Booking of the Month celebrates an incredible tailor-made journey through Japan. Working closely with Audley Travel, Pippa Williscroft created a highly personalised itinerary for a family wanting to experience Japan in a truly authentic way, blending luxury, culture and unforgettable experiences into one remarkable holiday.

Tell us about the booking.

This booking was for a lovely family of three travelling to Japan with their 17-year-old daughter.

Rather than simply ticking off famous sights, they wanted to immerse themselves in everything Japan has to offer, taking the time to experience the country's culture, landscapes and traditions at a relaxed pace.

What made this booking especially rewarding?

Every itinerary is unique, but this one really stood out.

The challenge was creating something that reflected each family member's individual interests. From birdwatching and private cookery lessons to theatre performances, matcha experiences, guided hikes, bike tours and even glamping beneath Mount Fuji, every part of the itinerary was carefully designed around what they love.

How did Audley help bring the itinerary together?

Audley were fantastic throughout.

Much of the itinerary was completely bespoke, and they worked closely with their local partners in Japan to tailor experiences specifically for this family. Their Japan Country Specialist even joined our final three-way call with the clients, helping answer questions and really bring the whole journey to life.

What's your advice for agents wanting to book more high-value trips?

Start by inspiring your clients.

Share exciting multi-centre itineraries and adventure-led holidays so people know these experiences are possible. Watch supplier webinars, learn as much as you can about destinations and, most importantly, ask lots of questions.

Understanding what motivates every traveller, not just the lead booker, allows you to create something truly unforgettable.

What's your favourite part of planning dream holidays?

Watching the excitement build.

By the time everything is confirmed, I almost feel like I'm going too! Every itinerary also teaches me something new, so each booking is as rewarding for me as it is for the client.

Laura Monro

This month's Advisor of the Month goes to Laura Monro, whose consistent dedication to her clients continues to set the standard. Balancing life as a busy mum of three with a thriving travel business, Laura has built an impressive reputation through exceptional service, trusted relationships and an ever-growing base of loyal repeat clients.

Tell us about your bookings this month.

This month has been a fantastic mix of family holidays, luxury escapes, city breaks and tailor-made itineraries. It's been especially rewarding to welcome back so many repeat clients while also helping plenty of new customers plan their next adventures.

What inspired you to become an Independent Travel Advisor?

I actually came across the opportunity by chance just over 18 months ago when I wasn't actively looking for anything new. As a full-time mum of three young children, it sounded like something fun, flexible and completely different that I could fit around family life.

The timing couldn't have been better, as my second child had just started school and I finally felt I had a little more time to focus on something for myself. I've always loved travel, so being able to turn that passion into a business has been incredibly rewarding.

You're consistently one of ATT's top bookers. What's the secret?

For me, everything comes back to relationships and customer service. I genuinely care about finding the right holiday for every client and making the whole experience enjoyable from start to finish.

Being available to answer questions, staying in touch throughout the booking journey and really looking after people builds trust. That trust leads to repeat bookings and recommendations, which has been the biggest contributor to my consistency.

Where do most of your clients come from?

The majority now come through repeat business and recommendations, which is incredibly rewarding. Knowing clients trust me enough to return and recommend me to their friends and family is the biggest compliment I could ask for.

What advice would you give someone thinking about becoming an ITA?

Don't underestimate what you can achieve.

You don't need to know everything from day one, you simply need to be willing to learn, stay consistent and make the most of the support around you. ATT is an incredibly supportive community, the start-up costs are low and there's no long-term commitment, so I'd always encourage people to give it a go.

You might surprise yourself.

Rebecca Job

This month's Rising Star award goes to Rebecca Job, who has made an impressive start to her ATT journey. Despite only recently turning her attention to the business, Rebecca has already secured bookings, introduced her first team member and become a valued member of the ATT community.

What made you decide to join All Things Travel?

I've known Ashley for around ten years. She got in touch to tell me about ATT, we had a chat and I honestly signed up there and then. It just felt like a complete no-brainer.

You've made a fantastic start already. What's helped?

Although I joined in March, I didn't really focus on the business until June because I was busy launching my own bespoke operations and lifestyle management business.

Once I had the capacity, I started networking, telling people what I do and thinking about everyone who could benefit from having a personal travel advisor. That made a huge difference.

Has anything surprised you about becoming an ITA?

Definitely the community.

At first I found everyone's success and knowledge quite overwhelming, but it quickly became one of the most motivating parts of the business. The willingness people have to share advice and support each other is incredible.

What advice would you give someone considering joining?

Be curious and ask lots of questions.

Talk to people because everyone travels, and everyone enjoys talking about holidays. The more conversations you have, the more opportunities you'll create.

Where do you hope to be in 12 months?

When I joined, my goal was simply to earn back my membership fees during my first year, and I'm already confident that's going to happen.

Over the next year I'd love to deepen my travel knowledge, continue supporting the people I've introduced to ATT and become someone who helps new advisors find their feet. I'd also love to develop an AI assistant to help streamline some of our systems and make life even easier for everyone.