A Macclesfield travel expert has been recognised on the national stage.

Richard Slater, managing director of Henbury Travel on Chestergate, has been named the 'Riviera Champion Touring Most Proactive and Engaged'.

With over 40 years of experience in the industry, Richard believes the accolade reflects a shift in how people want to travel.

Richard said: "More and more people are looking for holidays where they can really experience a destination — not just visit it.

"Touring holidays and river cruises give people the opportunity to learn, explore and travel at a relaxed pace, and they're becoming increasingly popular.

"We often describe ourselves as a human holiday search engine — because it's about understanding what people really want from their holiday and helping them find something that's right for them."

Richard has over 40 years of experience in the industry (Credit: Riv Awards)

The special prize was presented to Richard at the 2026 Riv Awards, held at the Hotel Cafe Royal in London on Thursday, March 26.

In its second year, the Riv Awards were created to recognise and reward Riviera Travel's most engaged and high-performing agency partners across its river cruise and touring portfolio.

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Vicky Billing, director of trade and partnerships at Riviera Travel, said: "We've worked with Henbury Travel for many years, and their depth of experience in the river cruise and touring sector is consistently evident.

"Their service is excellent, and customers place real value on their knowledge, expertise and recommendations."

Richard's award follows last year's success, when Henbury Travel was named Northwest Agent of the Year.

To celebrate these achievements, they are hosting an in-store event on Friday, April 17, from 11am to 3pm.

Visitors will be able to enjoy complimentary refreshments while finding out more about the river cruises and tours Henbury Travel offer, with exclusive offers available on the day.