There has been much we’ll remember with sadness or anger.

For fans of David Bowie, Prince, Victoria Wood and many other luminaries, it will be the year they lost their heroes.

Politically, it will be remembered as a landmark year in which we voted to leave the European Union.

And on a global scale, it’s been a year of unprecedented terror attacks, devastating natural disasters, and the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

As ever, the travel industry too has had its problems: company failures, a plummeting pound, and key holiday destinations off sale (pages 10-11).

And yet against this backdrop, what I’ll also remember is the number of news stories we’ve written about agencies that are expanding; the number of agents who’ve told us they’ve had their best-ever year (including several having the best December on record); and the number of amazing TTG Top 50 finalists we’ve met in the past few weeks, who’ve described how their businesses are going from strength to strength.

Expansion at TTG Media too means that from January, I’m stepping up into a new position as group editor, with a more strategic role across the business, while news editor Sophie will become editor.

I’ve had three wonderful years at the helm of TTG, and I’ve never felt more inspired by the agency sector in the UK and Ireland, and more convinced of its bright future, in three years than I do right now.

I hope you’re able to look back at 2016 and recall the positives, and that you’re feeling match-fit for 2017.

To get into gear, look out for our Year Ahead in Travel edition, arriving December 28, and regular news on flymy.co.uk throughout the festive period.

From everyone at TTG, a merry Christmas and happy New Year. Make it a memorable one.