18 months ago, the JLT Group didn’t exist.
No suppliers.
No systems.
No team (unless you count me, Max and Steph winging it day by day).
It was just an idea — a belief that there had to be a better way to build a travel business.
No big investors. No safety nets. Just a lot of determination, a vision, and more than a few late nights.
Fast Forward to Now…
Today, here’s what that idea looks like:
➔ 380 independent agents
➔ 200+ suppliers
➔ A growing team of 10 (and counting)
➔ 6,000+ emails a month
➔ An endless stream of WhatsApps
➔ £12 million in sales booked
➔ A brand-new live reservation system
➔ Three versions of training platforms (because Max doesn’t settle for ‘good enough’)
And we’re still growing. Every single week.
What You Don’t See on Social Media
It’s easy to share the wins.
The celebrations.
The milestones.
But behind every headline, there’s a story no one really sees:
• Tears — and not just happy ones.
• Endless hours behind the scenes fixing what no one knows was broken.
• Mum guilt (and serious dog guilt for Max 😂).
• Running on coffee and adrenaline because self-care takes a back seat.
• Sleepless nights wondering if it’s enough — if we’re enough.
• Mistakes that cost time, money, energy — and still choosing to show up the next day.
Building a business that doesn’t just look good on the outside but actually works for the people inside it takes more than a flashy website or a clever logo.
It takes grit.
It takes starting from scratch when it would be easier to quit.
It takes owning the mistakes, learning fast, and moving forward.
You may also enjoy reading: Starting Out As An Independent Travel Agent
Why JLT Group Feels Different
We’re not trying to be the biggest agency.
We’re not chasing every shiny new thing.
And we’re definitely not trying to copy what everyone else is doing.
What we’re building is different — because it’s built around people, not numbers.
Real community.
Real support.
Real results.
That means knowing your agents’ names, celebrating their first bookings not just they’re million-pound wins, and creating systems that actually help, not just tick boxes.
It means working with suppliers who believe in the future of travel — one that’s sustainable, responsible, and still full of wonder.
It means never forgetting where we started.
What’s Next
The best part?
We’re just getting started.
There’s so much more we want to build:
JLT was built for the agent who wanted more — and for the client who deserves better.
And if you’re reading this thinking, maybe there’s a place for me here — there absolutely is.
➔ Whether you’re starting from scratch or ready to grow something bigger, we’d love to hear from you.
Because this isn’t just business. It’s personal.
And we’re proud to be doing it differently.
