The UK’s top travel companies celebrated long into the night and paid tribute to travel agent voters after being honoured at the Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards.
Ian Scott, UK director of Dubai Tourism, said he was “thrilled” to pick up the gong for best tourist board UK office: “We’ve been working really hard for the last few years, speaking to agents and listening to what they said.
“I’d put this award down to the Mission:Possible campaign we ran with Travel Weekly. It was a great way to work with our partners and we were able to connect very well with the agent community.”
Simon Johnson, passenger services director for best ferry company award winner P&O Ferries, said: “It’s been a long year, with a lot of innovation and commitment. This award is a great start to the year.”
Nicky Tempest Mitchell, head of trade sales for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, said of the best mainstream cruise award: “This is amazing, I really appreciate everyone who voted. We have great relationships with agents.
“We have big plans for next year with five ships sailing out of the UK across Celebrity and Royal Caribbean so it’s going to be an exciting year for us.”
Mike Bonner, general manager for best luxury cruise line winner Silversea, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Thank you to the trade for supporting us and having faith in us and showing their support to Silversea.”
Karl Thompson, managing director of Sandals, said of the best all-inclusive resort operator award: “This is fantastic. We just have a great relationship with the trade – we deliver consistent products, great holidays to a great many people in the UK and it’s great to work with the trade.”
Kathryn Beadle, managing director of best specialist cruise company Hurtigruten, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have won this for the fifth year running. We recognise the importance of the trade, we listen to them and involve them and that leads to a great partnership.”
Chantal Tomlinson, UK trade sales manager for Holiday Autos, said of the best car rental gong: “We’re absolutely delighted. We want to thank the travel agents who voted for us, because without their continued support and loyalty, we wouldn’t be here.
“We’ve made a lot of changes to our website to make it easier for the trade to use. 2012 was our 25th anniversary so we really appreciate the fact they have continued to support us.”