Cruise Plus and Incredible Journeys, the specialist brands of Gold Medal Travel Group, joined forces for their first-ever Cruise Plus & Incredible Journeys Showcase at Lancaster House in Leyland.
*All details correct at time of publication (14 October 2026)
The event gave over 40 travel agents access to 25 industry-leading suppliers across the cruise and touring sectors over two days, via speed-dating-style sessions designed to build product knowledge and support their sales.
Both days featured a panel session bringing together voices from across the travel trade, including a cruise panel was chaired by Andy Harmer, Managing Director of CLIA UK & Ireland.
Agents, suppliers, and the Cruise Plus and Incredible Journeys teams also had the chance to make the most of a valuable two days together with an evening of food, drink, music and prizes, celebrating the partnerships at the heart of both brands.
The showcase wrapped up on day two with the announcement of the winner of the grand prize, a place on a FAM trip to Sri Lanka, courtesy of G Adventures, ATAS and Incredible Journeys. Melanie Saavedra of Travel Sense named the lucky winner.
Of the event, Sarah Lancashire, Product & Marketing Director at Cruise Plus and Incredible Journeys said; “Agents’ value lies in helping customers navigate choice with confidence, and we want to assist them in considering the wider possibilities for each customer’s holiday.
The showcase created a platform for that learning, connecting agents directly with the suppliers and industry specialists who can strengthen their advice. We were also thrilled to welcome Andy and Claire as panel hosts.
Their commitment to the agent community brought real value into the room during both panels, and we wanted agents to feel part of a wider industry conversation.
Giving them access to the people who can offer that broader perspective is invaluable and helps agents recognise opportunities they might not have previously considered.”
The Cruise Plus & Incredible Journeys Showcase was supported by a line-up of supplier partners, with Intrepid, Norwegian Cruise Line, Not in the Guidebooks, Wendy Wu, Cunard, Regent Seven Seas, AAT Kings, Trafalgar, Crystal Cruises, Destination Asia and Virgin Voyages showcasing their brands on day one.
Day two saw updates and insights from G Adventures, Celebrity Cruises, Explora Journeys, Globus, Azamara, APT, HX Expeditions, Silversea, Exodus, Explore!, Travel Excellence, Royal Caribbean, followme2AFRICA and Disney Cruise Line.
The support from these partners helped bring the Cruise Plus and Incredible Journey’s portfolios to life and gave agents a closer connection to the partners behind the holidays they sell.
Gold Medal Travel Group host regular agent and supplier events, with their next event, ‘Gold Medal Access All Areas – The Travel Circuit’ taking place on Wednesday 18 November at Lancaster House in Leyland.
The one-day, marketplace-style event will feature updates and product insights from the group’s flagship brand Gold Medal and its key supplier partners. For more information and to register your interest in attending, visit goldmedal.co.uk.
