Celebrity boss Jo Rzymowska (pictured) has received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards.
Rzymowska, vice president and managing director, UK and Ireland and Asia, has clocked up more than three decades in the industry.
She began her career as an assistant at International Leisure Group before working for giants of the industry, including Thomas Cook, Disney and Universal. She has also received awards from the Association of Women Travel Executives and Clia, where she served as chairman.
Receiving the award, she said: “I am absolutely and utterly gobsmacked. I have worked, and continue to work, with some great people and organisations. I continue to be passionate about this industry, about diversity and about showing the next generation how amazing it is.”
This year’s Penny Akam Unsung Hero Award went to Caroline Brown, commercial director, Shearing Holidays.
She was inspired to run 16 races, over 1,000 miles, in 2016 for Abta LifeLine by her colleague who had suffered a stroke at work.
Brown, who raised thousands for the charity, said: “I am overwhelmed and humbled to win this award. This is a fantastic industry and I wanted to give something back to an industry that has given so much to me.”
The Innovation Award this year went to Online luxury travel agent Black Tomato for Blink, its pop-up luxury resort concept for clients looking for something unrepeatable and unique.
The London-based company said the idea came from a trend it has seen from clients looking to design their own experiences.
Kate Warner, public relations and product manager, said: “It’s fantastic, amazing to win this. It’s real recognition in the travel industry that we are doing something innovative.
“Since we started Black Tomato we have always strived to be at the front of travel trends and what our clients want, offering something different. Blink sums that up.
“We are stepping away from bland products and giving our customers something unique that no one else can experience.”
View our gallery from the night
Globe Travel Awards: Social media wall