Travel Counsellors has won its third Queen’s Award for Enterprise and its second in recognition of its international trade.
The north-west based company won its first Queen’s Award in 2003 in the innovation category and was honoured again in 2014 for outstanding growth in its overseas business.
The Queen’s Awards recognise achievement in the fields of international trade, innovation and sustainable development, and have been the highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965.
Steve Byrne, chief executive, said: “We are so proud and delighted to win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade for the second time. It is the ultimate business accolade, and testament to how far the company has come in building a global community of like-minded travel entrepreneurs who, alongside our support team based across four continents, share the same passion for customer care and providing a uniquely personal travel service in both leisure and corporate sectors.
“As a people-focused business first and foremost, this award is truly down to our people, and the hard work, passion and dedication colleagues and business owners have shown over the last 12 months, showing true care for their customers and each other.”
Established in 1994, Travel Counsellors generated £160 million in sales from overseas territories in 2019, equivalent to 20% of its business. It has 700 franchisees operating internationally.
Byrne added: “We continue to navigate through a challenging time for the travel industry, but the culture of the business, the power of showing care and the trusted relationships our platform enables business owners to build with their customers means we are well placed to bounce back strongly, as we continue to grow our global community.
“With travellers across the globe increasingly seeking and appreciating the benefit and assurance of real, human, expert advice and guidance through these uncertain times, the true value of relying on an experienced, trusted travel professional shines through.
“We are looking forward to the future with optimism, and to the time when people can continue to explore the world again and do so in the most sustainable ways possible.”