The UK’s top travel companies paid tribute to travel agents for their support as they were honoured at the Globe Travel Awards.
Trafalgar took home the awards for best touring company and best trade sales team, while sister brand Insight Vacations scooped best luxury coach coach service.
Sales director Paul Melinis said: “We’re over the moon. We would like to thank all the travel agents who voted for us, and all the sales team who have worked so hard throughout 2013. It’s a real honour to come to a fantastic event like this, a great venue, and come out with an award that’s been voted wholly by the travel trade. We’ve never won three awards before – it’s an amazing achievement.”
Kuoni scooped two awards: best long haul operator (multi destination) and best luxury operator. Head of trade sales Amanda Darrington said: “This is a massive thank you to the trade for supporting us and recognising we offer price parity. We value our trade partners and we are dedicated to the trade.”
The award for best mainstream cruise company went to Royal Caribbean. UK managing director Stuart Leven said: “It’s great to have joined a tremendous team and I think this award is testament to how hard they have worked over the last 12 months. It’s really them who have won this award.”
Silversea was awarded the prize for best luxury cruise line. Mike Bonner, general manager, said: “It’s always a special award to win, it’s the award you always want because it’s voted for by the trade.”
The best all-inclusive resort operator went to Sandals. Managing director Karl Thompson said: “It’s lovely to have the support of all the fantastic travel agents in the UK.”
Visit England was the winner of the best tourist board award. Stuart Heath, head of marketing partnerships, said: “We are completely overwhelmed to have won this award. We would like to thank all of the travel agents who have sold holidays in England this year and we are committed to working with agents this year.”
Superbreak won best UK operator and best accommodation-only provider. Sales director Jane Atkins said: “We have had a great trading week and this has topped it off. It’s thanks to agents. This is down to developing product that is relevant to the market.”
The award for best theme park (worldwide) went to Disney. Peter Welch, vice president for commercial, said: “We are absolutely delighted, we have won this award many times but we can never be complacent about it and we couldn’t be happier.”
Celebrity Cruises won the award for best premium cruise company. Jo Rzymowska said: “As we move into a new era travel agents are more and more important to us. With our level of investment, we hope we’re going to exceed their expectations and work with them even more closely.”
Affordable Car Hire won best car rental company for the first time. Chairman James Moore said: “We are ten years old this year and it’s a huge honour to win this.”