A high street travel agency in Blackwood has been named as one of the best agencies in the UK and Ireland.

Tailor Made Travel has been selected as the Top Travel Agency in Wales, as part of a power-list of the best agents in Britain by industry bible the Travel Trade Gazette.

The TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies list was revealed after an extensive judging process, which saw agencies rated by tour operators and other suppliers, and then assessed by travel trade journalists.

More than 900 travel agencies and branches put themselves forward for consideration for TTG’s Top 50 Travel Agencies 2018 – in association with Kuoni - from which a shortlist of 95 finalists across 12 regional and seven nationwide categories was devised.

Judges said of Tailor Made Travel, Blackwood: "Consultants in this travel agency have demonstrated extraordinary levels of customer service in the last year, including one agent flying all the way to Dubai to take some forgotten paperwork to a client.

"Showing strong support for the local community, and with a phenomenal repeat business level, it's no wonder revenue is growing fast."

The shortlisting stage was undertaken by a panel of 60 travel suppliers including airlines, tour operators and car hire providers, who rated hopeful agencies according to their business performance, customer service and innovation.

To decide which shortlisted agencies made it into the Top 50 list, a TTG journalist visited or interviewed each shortlisted agency to carry out an assessment.

Simon Morgan, founder and CEO of Tailor Made Travel, said: “Winning this award means everything to us. It brings well deserved recognition to our incredible team of dedicated and hard-working staff.

“We take pride in offering customers the very best service and a wide selection of both the most luxury destinations and the hottest emerging destinations and resorts. This winning combination has allowed us to become a trusted and recognised high street brand, and to expand at an incredible rate.

"We are so pleased to be recognised as the Top Agency in Wales as the gravitas this brings from a supplier and consumer perspective is unparalleled.

“This award recognises the values and principles that underpin all we do both at our Blackwood store, and our nine other stores across south Wales.”