Aviate Partner Event 2026: A day to remember at Chester Zoo
Last week, we had the pleasure of bringing together our incredible community of travel agents, tour operators, and airline partners for the Aviate Partner Event 2026. With over 150 people joining us at the spectacular Chester Zoo, it's safe to say the day exceeded every expectation.
A warm welcome
The day kicked off with brunch at The Oakfield, Chester Zoo's beautiful onsite restaurant, the perfect setting to settle in, catch up with familiar faces, and make some new connections. A brief shower of rain threatened to steal the show early doors, but the sun had other plans and stayed with us for the rest of the day. Lucky us!
Our Chief Commercial Officer, Matt Darlington, opened proceedings with a welcome that set the tone perfectly, and we were thrilled to have Shauna from our platinum airline sponsor, Etihad Airways, join him on stage to get things underway.
Making the most of the day
Throughout the day, guests rotated between dedicated airline networking sessions and our workshop programme, featuring a hands-on InfiniteAPI workshop and an open Q&A with Managing Director Michael Edwards. The Q&A offered agents a direct line to leadership, and the conversations it sparked were some of the most valuable of the day.
Lunch was served in the Square, giving everyone a chance to pause, recharge, and keep the conversations going in a relaxed, social setting.
A walk on the wild side
One of the highlights of the afternoon was undoubtedly the ranger-guided walking tours through Chester Zoo itself. There's something about seeing giraffes and exotic wildlife in the afternoon sun that has a way of making people smile, and it gave our guests a memorable shared experience that's hard to replicate in a conference room. Refreshments back in The Square set everyone up perfectly for the afternoon sessions of networking and workshops.
Ending on a high
What better way to close out a brilliant day than a prize draw? From return flights to luxurious hampers and gift vouchers, the prizes were as impressive as the day itself, and the smiles on the winners' faces were the perfect finale.
What our partners said
The feedback from across the industry has been truly humbling. Pat Hart from Lufthansa perhaps put it best, writing on LinkedIn: "Trade events can sometimes feel like: 'Here's a branded pen. Please remember my company exists.' But this one genuinely felt different. Good people, good energy, good conversations."
Nadia Spita from Gulf Air added her thanks, calling it "a great event full of networking, connections, and connectivity", while Cameron from Japan Airlines was kind enough to say: "A very well put together event as always — you fed and watered us fantastically, and the sun shone again!"
Seema Sood from Air India reflected on the deeper value of face-to-face events: "It truly reinforces how important these face-to-face interactions are in strengthening partnerships and unlocking new opportunities."
Agents who attended were equally generous with their praise. One travel professional told us: "I had a really enjoyable day — always a great opportunity to catch up with the airlines and hear the latest news on routes and products." Another said: "It was clear to see there was a lot of time and effort put into organising this event, and you should be very proud of what was achieved."
A huge thank you
Events like this don't happen without an enormous amount of work behind the scenes, and we want to thank every airline, agent, and tour operator who gave their time and brought such brilliant energy to the day. A special thank you to Chester Zoo for being the most memorable of hosts, and to the Aviate team, whose dedication made every moment of it possible.
We're already looking forward to next year!
Photos by Sarah Horton Photography