Agent Achievement Awards 2018: Live winners and reaction
Agent Achievement Awards: Social media wall
Two leading travel agency bosses were honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards on Thursday.
Miles Morgan, managing director of Miles Morgan Travel, and Sandra Corkin, managing director of Oasis Travel, were presented with their awards at London’s Park Plaza Westminster hotel.
It was a particularly special night for both as their businesses also scooped awards in the agency categories.
Miles Morgan Travel won both the High Street Agency of the Year (large) Award and the South West England and South Wales – Large Agency Award.
Miles Morgan said: “If we had taken home one award tonight I would have been delighted- to win three is better than the icing on the cake. I am totally gobsmacked.
“We have 15 shops and we had a fantastic year, we continue to grow, to improve and our staff get better every year. The staff were all wishing me luck yesterday at a managers meeting; they will be over the moon.”
Oasis Travel picked up the award for Northern Ireland Small Agency of the Year. The business has six shops in Northern Ireland and a portfolio brand for private appointments, it employs 55 staff.
Sandra Corkin, managing director, said: ‘I’m so shocked because I know there are a lot of people in this room who have done amazing things in the industry. This is my 40th year in travel so this is an amazing way to celebrate.
‘I have an incredible team and I couldn’t have done it without them.
‘They’ve been in the business so many years and we’ve grown up together.
‘Julie-Anne who manages one of the shops and Wendy who looks after our portfolio brand have been with me 30 years.’
Corkin opened her first shop in 1984 when she was 21. Six staff who joined in the 80s are still working at the agency today.
Corkin said it was particularly special to win her award on the same day her father died 29 years ago. Her father, who owned an electrical goods business, gave Corkin the money to set up her own agency.
Other big winners on the night included Thomas Cook and Midcounties Co-operative Travel which scooped three awards each.
Meanwhile, Baldwins Travel and Regal Travel both picked up two awards each.
The AAAs are the biggest celebration of the travel trade in the UK, with 1,000 people attending this year’s ceremony.
The AAAs also recognise business excellence in the fields of marketing, social media and websites.
The 2018 awards were hosted by comedian Rob Beckett alongside Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley and Travel Weekly Group managing director Stuart Parish, with entertainment and prize giveaways taking place throughout the evening.
Agent Achievement Awards 2018: Live winners and reaction
Agent Achievement Awards: Social media wall
Winners:
Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award
Sandra Corkin, Oasis Travel
Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award
Miles Morgan, Miles Morgan Travel
Leisure Agent of the Year
Lee Ashton, Tui
Young Leisure Agent of the Year
Rebecca Baldwin, Thomas Cook
Leisure Manager of the Year
Joanna Ollerton, Co-operative Travel (Midcounties)
High Street Agency – Small Agency
Baldwins Travel Group
High Street Agency – Large Agency
Miles Morgan Travel
Aspire Agent of the Year
Dan Salmon, Never A Wasted Journey
Aspire Extra Mile Award
Simone Adams, Pure Destinations
Aspire Homeworker of the Year
Sarah Cook, Triangle Travel
Aspire Independent Agency of the Year
Swords Travel
Northern Ireland – Small Agency
Oasis Travel
Northern Ireland – Large Agency
Thomas Cook
Scotland – Small Agency
Jimmy Martin Travel
Scotland – Large Agency
Barrhead Travel
North West England and North Wales – Small Agency
Aspen Travel
North West England and North Wales – Large Agency
Althams Travel
Yorkshire, North Midlands and North East England – Small Agency
Marion Owen Travel
Yorkshire, North Midlands and North East England – Large Agency
Hays Travel
Central England – Small Agency
Millington Travel
Central England – Large Agency
Co-operative Travel (Midcounties)
South West England and South Wales – Small Agency
Regal Travel
South West England and South Wales – Large Agency
Miles Morgan Travel
London and South East England – Small Agency
Baldwins Travel Group
London and South East England – Large Agency
Thomas Cook
Cruise Agency of the Year – Small Agency
The Cruise Village
Cruise Agency of the Year – Large Agency
Cruise118
Call Centre Agency of the Year
Affinion International Travel
Online Agency of the Year
Loveholidays
Homeworking Agency of the Year
Travel Counsellors
Best Use of Social Media
Tailor Made Travel
Promotion of the Year – Small Agency
C The World
Promotion of the Year – Large Agency
Co-operative Travel (Midcounties)
Website of the Year – Small Agency
Regal Travel
Website of the Year – Large Agency
ROL Cruise
Clia Cruise Master Award
Ian Warren, GoCruise
Tipto Independent Agency of the Year
Lincolnshire Co-operative Travel
Agent Achievement Awards 2018: Live winners and reaction