Travel agents and suppliers were honoured at the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) awards ceremony.
In the agency awards Barrhead Travel won large leisure agency of the year and Glen Travel won small leisure agency of the year.
Moira Lumsden took home the award for home worker of the year.
The big supplier winners on the night were operator and airline Jet2holidays and Jet2.com.
Jet2holidays won short haul operator of the year and best trade friendly supplier of the year. Jet2 City Breaks won European city break operator of the year and Jet2.com won European airline of the Year.
If Only snapped up awards for both the luxury tour operator of the year and the long haul operator of the year. G Adventures won touring and adventure operator of the year and Ski Independence won ski company of the year.
In the cruise and ferry category Royal Caribbean won mainstream cruise company of the year, Celebrity Cruises won premium cruise company of the year, Silversea Cruises won luxury cruise company of the year, Azamara Cruises won specialist cruise company of the year and Scenic and Emerald Waterways won river cruise company of the year.
In the other categories Stuba won accommodation only supplier of the year, Beachcomber Hotels won hotel and resort operator of the year and Travel 2 won best flight consolidator of the year.
The ceremony, held at Glasgow’s Doubletree Hilton, was attended by more than 600 guests.
SPAA president Ken McLeod said: “Its really nice to be able to reward those in the regions and especially Scotland which has a very specific identity. We’ve got a lot of suppliers, tour operators and cruise companies who have people based here and who cover this territory. They are so much part of what the SPAA is about along with the travel agent community.
“So many new suppliers have put so much effort into the Scottish market and we want to make sure that they are recognised. There’s so much enthusiasm about it, the suppliers are excited about it, the agencies are excited about it and its great to see that community come together.”
SPAA vice president Joanne Dooey said: “This is the highlight of the social calendar in Scotland for travel. The agents, reps and tour operators out there work so hard to get these awards.
“They are all winners, they might no be on stage collecting a trophy but the work these guys put in to support the agents is phenomenal. We’re very lucky in Scotland, we’re like a small family and have very close relationships with all our agents, both multiple and independent, plus all the operators, airlines and cruise companies.”
The full list of winners:
Holiday Awards
Luxury Tour Operator of the Year – If Only
Touring & Adventure Operator of the Year – G Adventures
Ski Company of the Year – Ski Independence
Short Haul Operator of the Year – Jet2holidays
Long Haul Operator of the Year – If Only
Cruise & Ferry Awards
Mainstream Cruise Company of the Year – Royal Caribbean
Premium Cruise Company of the Year – Celebrity Cruises
Luxury Cruise Company of the Year – Silversea Cruises
Specialist Cruise Company of the Year – Azamara Cruises
River Cruise Company of the Year – Scenic & Emerald Waterways
Ferry Company of the Year – DFDS
Hotels/Short Breaks & UK Holidays
Accommodation Only Supplier of the Year – Stuba
Hotel & Resort Operator of the Year – Beachcomber Hotels
UK Holiday Operator of the Year – Hoseasons
European City Break Operator of the Year – Jet2 City Breaks
Technology/Ground & Service Awards
Best Trade Friendly Supplier of the Year – Jet2holidays
Best Technology Supplier of the Year – Travelport
Car Hire Supplier of the Year – Flexible Autos
Holiday Essentials Supplier of the Year – do something different
Rail Operator of the Year – Virgin Trains
Best Flight Consolidator of the Year – Travel 2
Airline Awards
Domestic Airline of the Year – Loganair
European Airline of the Year – Jet 2
Transatlantic Airline of the Year – Virgin Atlantic
Worldwide Airline of the Year – Emirates
Representative Awards
Leisure Representative of the Year – Martin MacLaren – Beachcomber Tours
Cruise Representative of the Year – Emma Sweeney – Royal Caribbean
Airline Representative of the Year – Shirley Saadi – Emirates
Agency Awards
Large Business Agency of the Year – Clyde Travel Management
Small Business Agency of the Year – Jigsaw Travel
Home Worker of the Year – Moira Lumsden
Large Leisure Agency of the Year – Barrhead Travel
Small Leisure Agency of the Year – Glen Travel
SPAA Travel Quiz 2019 – Kenneth Macleod Travel
Edinburgh Airport Airline Customer Service Awards 2019 – Qatar Airways
Glasgow Airport Airline of the Year 2019 – Emirates