Travel Counsellors has won the 2017 Customer Focus Award at the National Business Awards.
The Manchester-based travel company, which supports a network of homeworkers selling both leisure and business travel, hit a total transaction value of £500m for the first time between March 2016 and March 2017.
Turnover rose to £188m in the year to October 2016, up from £162m the previous year, meaning the firm has recorded double digit growth for 11 straight years.
This year, the company also secured a place in the 2017 Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 for the sixth time.
Held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, the National Business Awards recognises and rewards excellence across the UK. Now in its 16th year, the event is attended by more than 1,200 business leaders across the country, with a judging panel including the likes of IBM, M&S, Unilever and the Prince’s Trust.
The Customer Focus Award was designed to recognise companies that strive to innovate around customer experience and exceed existing industry standards. The judging panel considered how Travel Counsellors’ customer service strategy contributed to its improved financial performance, as well as the ongoing operational performance and leadership.
Steve Byrne, chief executive at Travel Counsellors, said: “This award is testament to the quality of the people at Travel Counsellors and the care we show our customers, and reflects the success of the business model created 23 years ago. Travel Counsellors’ highly relational model is based on empowering our 1,700 travel business owners to create lasting relationships with their customers, building trust and caring for them more than anyone else.
“We invest heavily in technology to enhance the really personalised experience they provide, rather than replace it. We are constantly innovating and looking at what we can do next to support our people even further in doing this. So, we are delighted to have been recognised for our commitment to doing the right thing for our customers with such a prestigious award.”