Winners of this year’s Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards have thanked the trade for their support.
Attraction World was one of the big winners of the night, scooping three awards, while SuperBreak and Emirates both took two awards. Royal Caribbean and sister brand Celebrity Cruises won best mainstream cruise company and best premium cruise line respectively.
Tony Seaman, group sales and marketing director at Attraction World, said: “It’s amazing for us to win a hat-trick when we’re up against such fantastic rivals – it’s a testament to our brand.
“This year we’ve reinforced our service and marketing to the trade and raised it to a higher level. Winning the Globe award for Best Trade-Friendly Brand is the biggest prize of all because it shows we’ve beaten some of the biggest brands in the industry. Now we’re going to have to buy a bigger awards cupboard!”
Jo Rzymowska, UK general manager, Celebrity Cruises, which won Best Premium Cruise Line, said: “Every year the competition gets stiffer and stiffer as does the level of investment by numerous cruise lines so we never take this for granted and we remain committed to listening to what the trade say and their feedback about how we can continue to change and develop year on year.”
P&O Ferries won Best Ferry Company and in the consumer awards, voted for by readers of Mail Newspapers, won Favourite Ferry Company. Janette Bell, commercial director,said: “To win both consumer and trade awards among all European ferry operators means an enormous amount. At P&O we give everything to offer great customer service and this a credit to all the 4,000 strong team.”
Stuart Leven, managing director UK, Royal Caribbean, winner of Best Mainstream Cruise Company, said: “We have spent the last 12 months with a new team in place getting to know the travel agents in the UK. We have to thank the agents for their support and for making this happen. We’ve worked to make their lives easier and this award makes all our hard work much worthwhile.”
Best Premium Airline Service and Best Long-haul Airline both went to Emirates. Jon Sheppard, manager, national accounts UK, said: “We are hugely excited about this award. We work very closely with the trade and this is testament to the work we do in the agent community.”
Paul Melinis, director of sales at Insight Vacations, winner of Best Premium Touring Service, said: “We won last year and delighted to have secured the win again. We have had a lot of trade support and we work well together. It’s been a long road for everyone in the business and this is for the sales team.”
The Best All-inclusive Resort Operator gong was scooped by Sandals. Managing director Karl Thompson said: “This is truly memorable and it is a fabulous start to the year for Sandals. Last year was a record year for us, but we’re sure the next will be too. It’s onwards and upwards for us and we have the support from the trade to thank for that.”
Gerry Boyle, account director of Brand USA, winner of Best Tourist Board UK office, said: “We are blown away, we are thrilled. The is the culmination of what we have been doing over the last three years from a standing start we have been able to take marketing of the destination to new levels and it’s been a real team effort.”
Angela Day, chief executive of Affordable Car Hire, winner of the Best Car Rental Company award, said: “This is the accolade of the year for us. It means we’re getting the rubber-stamp from our agent partners, which means we are still the best and we will strive to remain so in 2015.”