Four travel companies have appeared in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 rankings: Panache Cruises, Simpson Travel, Unforgettable Travel Company and loveholidays.
Now in its fourth year, the list features companies voted for by their own employees via a survey of more than 200,000 staff spanning 25 industry sectors across the UK.
The Sunday Times said the best employers aim to create connections among employees and offer hybrid working policies, fair pay, career development opportunities and “thoughtful” fringe benefits.
It also cited health-related benefits, from discounted gym memberships to tailored support at different life stages – and welcoming pets at work.
Other highlights include those supporting staff with tech and AI skills and employers are still putting mentorship and career progression at the heart of operations.
• Online travel agency loveholidays has been named on the list for the fourth year running and is ranked among the 100 ‘big’ companies (250+ employees).
The Sunday Times said: “The UK’s fastest-growing online travel agent is on a mission to open the world to everybody, including its 426 employees. Discounted breaks for staff and their family and friends are part of the deal at the London package holiday specialist.
“The flexible working policy enables the team to work from home two days a week and from anywhere for two weeks a year. Everybody receives up to £2,000 annually for external development and can take a paid day for volunteering.”
Rick Kershaw, chief people officer at loveholidays, said: “This recognition proves that our continued investment in development, wellbeing and innovative new tools is resonating, freeing up teams and making our peoples’ lives easier. The culture we’ve created is what helps us to attract and retain brilliant people, who show up every day to deliver the best experiences for our customers.”
• Featured among the 218 best medium places to work, for firms with 50-249 employees, are Panache Cruises and Simpson Travel.
The Sunday Times said of Panache: “A luxury cruise retailer with staff across the UK, US and Australia, this Chorley, Lancashire, company looks after its 77 UK employees in style.
“Flexible working, including remote working and additional options during school holidays, and enhanced parental leave, offering six months’ full maternity pay and six weeks’ paternity leave, are standard.
“Vitality provides access to counselling and virtual GP services. There are also free familiarisation trips to destinations such as Antarctica and the Galapagos.”
For Simpson Travel, it said: “Travel perks are unsurprisingly the big draw at this Richmond-based luxury holiday business.
“The 75 staff are invited to view the overseas portfolio first-hand, and there are generous concessions on products and services during their own leisure time.
“Annual leave increases with length of service, there are family and friends discounts and all staff have complimentary annual worldwide travel insurance. It is not all about relaxing, however — the team’s charity work includes everything from concerts to beach cleans.”
Simpson Travel said it received an engagement score of 90% across the business, which is some 17% above the average across the Travel and Leisure industries.
The company’s chief executive, Ed Pyke, said: “We are thrilled to have made the cut. As someone from an operations and customer service background, this award is something that is very close to my heart and as I continue through my third year as MD of Simpson Travel, it is a great accolade to have.
“Our team – from those in sales, marketing, product and central services in London, to our amazing representatives in all our destinations, and the levels of service, expertise and knowledge that they provide – is what really sets us apart from the competition. So to receive their endorsement is tremendous. I’m particularly pleased at the level of engagement that we got across the business.”
Louise Ash, head of people, added: “We invest extensively in our people and are proud of the environment we have created, so it is very gratifying to see this care reflected in the results. ‘Wellbeing’ ranked very highly, with 94% saying they felt they worked for an organisation who genuinely cared (as against industry averages of 71%); 94% said they would recommend to friends and family and 95% felt proud to work for Simpson Travel.”
• Unforgettable Travel Company appears among the 195 best small organisations to work for 2026, for firms with 10-49 employees.
The newspaper said: “This London luxury travel company offers its 41 staff unforgettable perks including a 30-day paid sabbatical after five years’ service and a bucket-list trip with a £5,000 company contribution after 10 years.
“The family-owned business, launched by husband and wife Graham Carter and Julia Shikina from their living room in 2015, has offices in New York, Split, Athens, Cape Town and Melbourne.
“Other benefits include familiarisation trips, £1,000 a year to spend on personal travel and ‘pawternity’ leave for pet adoption or loss.”
