Travel Weekly has received a record number of entries for the Innovation in Travel Award, one of 40 categories in the Globe Travel Awards.
The unprecedented response proves that travel companies are recognising that innovation is more important than ever, as the industry looks at new ways to thrive during the economic downturn.
A panel of high profile judges met at the Durrants Hotel in London last month to whittle the 42 entries down to just 13.
TW Group publishing director Simon Ferguson, who led the judging, said: “The high number of entries this year shows that, despite tough economic conditions, innovation continues to thrive in the Travel industry. The range and scope of ideas made the judges’ task particularly difficult.”
Fellow judge and award sponsor Cheapflights general manager Francesca Ecsery added: “Innovation is high on everyone’s agenda at the moment and we had some good entries. Now is the time to think creatively about ways of adding value.”
The final list showcases the diversity of the industry, from travel technology company Traveltek to video and price comparison site hotelly.com, owned RateGain Solutions.
The nature of the innovations also revealed a trend towards mobile communications, such as Mobile Trails’ Travel Buddy product and British Airways’ iphone application, as consumers constantly seek new more convenient ways to access information.
TripAdvisor won last year’s Innovation in Travel award.
The Innovation in Travel Award is one of only two judged by industry experts, the other 38 categories are voted for by travel agents.
Agents and suppliers will honour the winners at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on January 27.
To find out more visit the Globe Travel Awards website.
The shortlist
- Opodo – One-way combinable fares
- HolidayTaxis.com – Interactive Ski Maps
- World Reviewer – Destination experiences
- Cruise.co.uk – Cruise reviews
- Mobile Trails – Travel Buddy
- Traveltek – Cruise Voyager
- RateGain IT Solutions – hotelly.com
- Villas To Go – Automatic Flexible Availability
- Lastminute.com – Pronto
- TripAdvisor – Local Picks on Facebook
- British Airways – ba.com iphone application
- Lastminute.com – Fonefood
- Travel TV – Travel TV
Judging Panel
- Dan Robb: Head of Travel, Google
- Andrew Shelton: Marketing Director, Virgin Holidays
- Gilles Storme: Head of Travel, AOL
- Simon Edwards: Airline Account Manager, BAA
- Kevin May: Editor, Travolution
- Francesca Ecsery: UK General Manager, Cheapflights
- Asha Chandegra: Brand Development Manager (Travel), Global Radio
- Paul Mead: MD, VCCP Search
- Simon Ferguson: Publishing director, TW Group
The 42 entries
- Completely Croatia Ltd
- Opodo
- HolidayTaxis.com
- Online Travel Training
- AA Appointments
- Vertical Group
- Air France
- World Reviewer
- Travel UCD
- CarTrawler
- Comtec Europe
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Somak Holidays
- Cruise.co.uk ltd
- Arguscarhire.com
- Mobiletrails
- Traveltek
- Skyscanner
- Hilton Hotels Corporation
- blue o two
- RateGain IT Solutions
- Iceland Express
- destinationRussia.com
- DoSomethingDifferent.com
- Yucca – P&O Cruises
- Villas to Go Ltd
- Travelport – Flybe Script
- Travelport -Carbon Tracker
- Travelport – eVouchers for Cars
- Lastminute.com – Pronto
- WorldSIM
- Where Are You Now? Ltd
- Trafalgar Tours
- NCL (Bahamas) Ltd
- TripAdvisor
- British Airways
- Lastminute.com – Fonefood
- Low Cost Beds
- Thomson
- Zoover
- Affiliate Future
- Travel TV