Travel Weekly’s Globe Travel Awards 2008 were handed out to 42 winners last night at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Travel Weekly spoke to some of the award winners to get their reaction.
Operators
Best Operator – Eastern Mediterranean: First Choice
“We’re delighted and it is really pleasing for everyone as the Eastern Mediterranean is doing so well at the moment.”
Dermot Blastland, managing director, TUI Travel UK
Best Seat-Only Operator: Freedom Flights
“This means a lot because we are dedicated to the trade.”
Paul Moss, managing director, Freedom Flights
Best Operator – Short Breaks: Superbreak
“We offer a great service to travel agents and we visit their shops every eight weeks to update them on information.”
Graham Balmforth, national sales manager, Superbreak
Best Operator – UK Holidays: Hoseasons
“The breadth of our offering, our sales team regularly visiting agents and the quality of our service would have all helped win this for us.”
Pali Badwal, business development director, Hoseasons
Best Operator – Long Haul: Kuoni
“This is a great credit for our people. I think travel agents recommend us because they trust us.”
Nick Hughes, managing director, Kuoni
Best Specialist Operator – US or Canada or the Caribbean: Virgin Holidays
“I have a fantastic team that is very knowledgeable about the product. We are also the best, most flexible and diverse tour operator.”
Amanda Wills, managing director, Virgin Holidays
Best Specialist Operator – Far East, the Pacific, Australia or New Zealand: Kuoni
“It is an absolute credit to us and it is thanks to the support of travel agents – we hope they will continue to support us.”
Nicola Denbigh, product manager Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, Kuoni
Best Specialist Operator – Africa: Somak Holidays
“We are really pleased. Africa is the biggest part of our programme and the knowledge our staff has of it is second to none.”
Ash Sofat, managing director, Somak Holidays
Best Operator – Ski/Activity: Neilson
“We offer consistency of delivery again and again. We keep our product simple and clean and we make it work.”
Managing director Peter Tyler, Neilson
Cruise
Best cruise company – luxury: Silversea Cruises
“We have a high profile in the luxury sector. We have done a lot of work with the trade and this recognises the relationships we have with the trade.”
Trudy Redfern, UK managing director, Silversea Cruises
Best cruise company – four star plus: Royal Caribbean International
“To win this a second year running is fabulous; retaining an award is always tough. It’s not just about us, it’s listening to what the trade wants.”
Jo Rzymowska, managing director UK and Ireland, Royal Caribbean International
Best cruise company – three-star plus: Ocean Village
“This shows a fantastic effort by all the team, travel agents and customers.”
Nick Lighton, managing director, Ocean Village
Aviation
Best Charter Airline: First Choice Airways
“Customer feedback and our long-haul product won this. It is a great award – regarded as the best.”
Dermot Blastland, managing director, TUI Travel UK
Best Scheduled Airline to the US/Canada: Virgin Atlantic
“This is the most important award of the year. It recognises quality, consistency and an understanding of what customers want.”
Paul Dickinson, sales and marketing director, Virgin Atlantic
Best Scheduled Airline to Europe: British Airways
“We have made a lot of progress and continue to work closely with the trade. It’s a great accolade.”
Adam Daniels, head of UK & Ireland leisure sales, British Airways
Online
Best Travel Trade Website: Holiday Extras
“Our site is the same for the trade as for the direct customer. This means the world to us.”
Howard Dove, sales director, Holiday Extras