The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) replaced its traditional awards night this year with a celebration suppliers’ handling of the pandemic and the funny side of the industry’s dealing with the impact of Covid.
In a virtual Rewards and Awards event, recognition was given to individuals and companies who had helped SPAA members with repatriating stranded travellers, moving holidays to later dates and paying out on cancellations and refunds “in a timely manner”.
More light-hearted awards were also handed out to those who had brought joy to the association in the midst of the crisis, from dressing up on Zoom to DIY projects while in lockdown.
Ex-footballer Peter Martin, who co-hosted the awards with SPAA president Joanne Dooey, said: “It’s been a tough year and everyone in the travel industry knows this. I have been looking on and wondering how you will get through this but you’re battlers out there, not only the individuals but the collective travel industry.”
Dooey explained: “This year we’ve decided to throw all the usual categories overboard, and instead reward those companies, suppliers and people who have helped to support us through the ups and downs of the last six months.”
Dooey also paid tribute to the “many sales executives and reps out there who are sadly no longer in the travel business” having lost jobs as a result of the pandemic.
Rewards
Large tour operator: Jet2holidays
Small tour operator: Classic Collection
Most helpful cruise company: Celebrity Cruises
Best hotel group: Palladium Hotels
Domestic airline: Loganair
Overall airline: Qatar Airways
Awards
Best Lockdown look (ladies) – Maggie Monteith, Traveleads
Best Lockdown look (men): Mark Henderson, DFDS
Best Zoom call: Colin Rillie and the MSC Cruises team
Best lesson learnt during lockdown;
Male: Colin Currie, Gold Medal/Travel 2
Female: Tracy Laing, Kelso Travel
Unsung hero;
Company: Fred. Olsen Cruises
Person: Anne Crowe, Clyde Travel Management