Scotland’s top-performing agents and suppliers were honoured at the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association 24th annual awards ceremony in Glasgow last night.
The event was once again hosted by Superbreak’s Graham Balmforth, together with Love to Travel owner Joanne Dooey and Travel Weekly’s group managing director Stuart Parish.
A total of 600 people attended this year’s ceremony, held at the Doubletree Hilton in the city centre.
Former SPAA president Roddie MacPhee received the Lifetime Achievement Award, his second honour of the year having won Travel Weekly’s Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award at the Agent Achievement Awards in July.
Clyde Travel and Glen Travel were among the winning agencies, while Royal Caribbean and Jet2 took home gongs in the supplier categories.
Entertainment came in the form of swing band Jack Pack and dance band EPIC, followed by an after party sponsored by Jet2holidays.
SPAA president Alan Glen said the number of votes received from agents and suppliers had more than doubled this year compared to last following the introduction of electronic voting.
“This event is the recognition of all the hard work among Scotland’s agents,” he said. “We have a very close knit community. We’re competitors but we all know each other and everyone is pleased to see their peers succeed.”
Commenting on Macphee’s honour, Glen said: “He’s one of those under stated and unassuming chaps, a great character in the industry. It’s not just his lengthy service, it’s the work that he has done at Abta and the SPAA and he’s not afraid to say what he thinks.”
The SPAA will hold its 87th annual dinner on March 2 next year to avoid clashing with the Business Travel Show at the end of February.
Full list of winners:
Holiday Awards
Best Mainstream Short-haul Tour Operator: Jet2holidays
Best Independent Short-haul Operator: Classic Collection
Best Ski Operator: Inghams
Best Mainstream Long-haul Tour Operator: Travel 2
Best Independent Long-haul Operator: If Only …
Best Overall Operator: Jet2holidays
Cruise & Ferry Awards
Best Mainstream Cruise Company: Royal Caribbean
Best luxury Cruise Company: Celebrity Cruises
Best Specialist Cruise Company: Hurtigruten
Best River Cruise Company: Viking River Cruises
Best Ferry Company: DFDS Seaways
Hotels/Short Breaks & UK Holidays
Best Bedbank/Hotel Booking Company: SuperBreak
Best Hotel Group: Sandals Resorts
Best UK Holiday Company: SuperBreak
Best European Short Break Provider: Jet2CityBreaks
Technology/Ground & Service Awards
Best Agency Sales Support Team: Emirates
Best Technology Supplier: Travelport
Best Car Hire Supplier: Affordable Car Hire
Best Holiday Essentials Supplier: Holidays Extras
Best Consolidator: Travel 2
Airline Awards
Best Holiday Airline: Jet2.com
Best Domestic Airline: British Airways
Best European Airline: KLM
Best Transatlantic Airline: United
Best Worldwide Airline: Emirates
Representative Awards
Best Leisure Representative: Martin Maclaren – Beachcomber Tours
Best Cruise Representative: Colin Rillie – Royal Caribbean
Best Airline Representative: Greig White – Etihad
Agency Awards
Best Large Business Agent: Clyde Travel Management – Glasgow
Best Small Business Agent: Jigsaw Travel – Hamilton
Best Home Worker: Fiona Bibby – Travel Architect
Best Large Leisure Agent: Stewart Travel – Glasgow
Best Small Leisure Agent: Glen Travel – Blantyre
Edinburgh Airport Airline Customer Service Awards 2016: Qatar Airways
Glasgow Airport Airline of the Year 2016: Air France/KLM
SPAA Travel Quiz 2016: Glen Travel
Lifetime Achievement Award: Roddie MacPhee