Panache Cruises marketing chief honoured for wellbeing work

Panache Cruises’ Anna Perrott collected the Mental Health Matters Award at Travel Weekly’s Agent Achievement Awards for her continued work in the area.

The cruise agency’s senior partnerships and marketing director was hailed as a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing, both within her own company and the wider industry.

Judges found Perrott had made improvements to ensure all staff can access professional mental health support should they need it, as well as improving wellbeing at work for all employees.

They noted how she has also made “huge strides” for employees with children by taking a people-first approach, which has “extended far beyond her own business”.

Perrott launched Back in Time For Bed – a support network for parents working in the travel industry – alongside Riviera Travel’s head of partnerships, Vicky Billing, in 2023.

The group aims to provide a safe space for parents to discuss challenges and successes related to work-life balance.

Perrott said: “This feels incredible – it is amazing to be recognised for wanting to help people. Improving mental health in the industry is just about talking to people, and what I think makes me stand out is the fact I don’t take myself too seriously.

“I would call for employers to work with their teams to find the support they need.

“We do not live or work nine-to-five, so employers need to look for flexibility. It should not be a separate cut-off for family and work life. Speak with your team about how everything is going for them.”

Perrott said the aim of Back In Time For Bed is to encourage parents to “not have guilt” and to ensure they feel like they are not alone.

"We would love to grow the group more and we are heavily focused on doing that,” she added.

“We are providing people more support in the school holiday periods, for example by getting suppliers to offer exclusive days out.

“We would love to develop our website too, as we think it has real potential.”