They Beat the Best in Britain – How This Cornish Travel Agency Took the Top Spot

L&K Travel Wins TUI Community Hero Award for 2025

A Newquay-based travel agency has taken home one of the biggest awards in the UK and Ireland travel industry – and they’ve only just completed their first year in business.

L&K Travel, run by co-founders Jessica and Laurie Gardener, was named TUI Community Hero Champion 2025 at last night’s TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies ceremony in Manchester. The award recognises businesses making an extraordinary impact on their local communities – and the judges were blown away by what this Cornish duo had achieved.

“We were up against some of the biggest and best travel agencies in the whole of the UK & Ireland, and we won!”

Making a Difference in Just One Year

L&K Travel only launched in May 2024, but in that short time Jessica and Laurie have made a name for themselves not just as travel experts, but as community champions.

Their launch day wasn’t just about opening a business – they offered a free bouncy castle, ice cream and live music to locals and raised money for RNLI Newquay at the same time.

In August, Jessica ran a fun and interactive “Search for the Sun” campaign, hiding an L&K sun around Newquay and sharing daily clues on Facebook Live, with hampers of local produce given away to winners.

But it was their work over Christmas that truly set them apart. L&K Travel organised a massive “Secret Santa” programme, inviting locals to submit anonymous requests for toys, food or gifts for struggling families. They then rallied the community to donate, using an Amazon wishlist and spreading the word with more than 250 leaflets, including in a local school. Their efforts caught the attention of BBC Spotlight, who sent a crew to cover the story.

The results?

• 53 gift and food hampers delivered

• 15 Aldi gift cards donated to the local church

• 25 new items donated to a local charity

• Over £50 worth of dog food given to RSPCA Newquay

• £1,000 raised and gifts worth over £500 donated

“We managed to help those in the local community when they needed it most,” said Jessica. “I am so, so proud of what we have achieved in the short time we have been open and there is no stopping us.”

A Community Celebration on the Killacourt

To mark their national win, L&K Travel are inviting the public to a celebration event on the Killacourt in Newquay on Saturday 1st June, from 11am to 3pm.

The free event includes:

• Over 18 tour operators in attendance

• A huge charity raffle

• Free coffee and ice cream

• Bouncy castles, a bar and garden games

All funds raised on the day will go to The Hugs Foundation, a charity supporting children and animals in need.

“Please join us from 11am – 3pm as we now celebrate being named the TUI Community Hero Champion travel agency across the whole of the United Kingdom & Ireland. All while, raising lots of money for a local charity – The Hugs Foundation.”

A Win for the Town

L&K Travel credits the Newquay community for their success:

“We want to thank every single person in our fantastic community for coming together and making this possible. Without the generous donations, support and motivation from you all, we wouldn’t have achieved what we did.”

“Well done Newquay & let’s make it our mission to give back as much as we possibly can to those within our community that need it most. None of this would be possible without YOU.”

Whether it’s your next holiday or a family getaway, booking through L&K Travel now carries even more meaning.

“You now know that by booking your next getaway with L&K Travel, you are supporting local. You are giving back to your local community.”

Support local. Support family. Support Newquay.