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Abta chairman honoured at Globe Travel Awards

Abta chairman Noel Josephides, chairman of Sunvil, received the outstanding achievement award at Travel Weekly’s Globe Travel Awards on Thursday night.

A leading figure in the industry for more than 40 years, Josephides was for many years chairman of independent operators’ association Aito, a founder member of the industry’s sustainable tourism charity The Travel Foundation, and is a former member of the advisory committee on air travel insolvency protection to the Government.  He remains chairman of The Travel Foundation.

Josephides was presented with the award by Gold Medal head of sales and business development Ruth Hilton.

He told the audience at London’s Grosvenor House: “Unusually, I’m lost for words. I hope I can continue being of service.”

Josephides told Travel Weekly: “I thoroughly enjoy this industry, with all of its problems and all its changes. I’m passionate about protecting the small, independent player.

“People think now is a time of great change, but when you look back there has always been something happening. It’s a great industry to be in.”

Barrhead Travel agent Leanne Kane scooped the Penny Akam Unsung Hero Award for “always going the extra mile without being asked” from working extra hours to organising charity events.

Kane is regularly named in her own company’s awards for her “unstinting commitment” to her job and is described by the company as “a hero in our eyes” and “incredibly dedicated and reliable”.

The agent, based at the Oswald Street branch in Glasgow, said: “I’m totally shocked. I work as hard as everyone else in my office and we all work together as a team. I just love my job and I am very committed. I’ve worked for Barrhead Travel since I was 15 and I’ll never leave! The company feels like my family.”

Kane, who has worked in a variety of roles from travel agent to her current role as product manager, said she has been involved in helping out the company in crises such as the Ash Cloud crisis to taking calls from customers in resort who are in trouble. “I love dealing with customers,” she added.

The winner of the Innovation in Travel Award, sponsored by Travelport and presented by commercial director Paul Broughton, was peer-to-peer currency exchange service WeSwap. Broughton said: “Our winner showed the most potential for disrupting its marketplace and changing how business is done.”

Accepting the award, director of sales and marketing Rob Stross said: “We are over the moon. We are unique in the marketplace because no one does what we do; we are looking to get trade partners on board to distribute the product further. We have really revolutionised currency exchange.”

Business manager Stephanie Meyer-Scott added: “I think buying currency from a bank or a bureau is a thing of the past. Technology is helping people to swap their currency.”

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