The Advantage Travel Partnership’s first Big Celebration Lunch in four years saw Classic Collection picking up two awards, while Keir Woodward Travel was named ‘Advantage Holiday Agent of the Year’.
Around 300 guests sat down for three courses and entertainment at the Hilton Bankside on Friday, December 1, with a total of 21 prizes distributed.
Classic Collection won ‘Tour Operator of the Year’ as well as ‘Trade Support Team of the Year’ during the best-attended Big Celebration Lunch to date.
Advantage chief executive Julia Lo-Bue Said congratulated the “exceptional businesses and people” recognised at the event.
She said it had been an “exceptionally strong year” for Advantage, adding that the consortium had made “significant progress” while delivering a strong financial performance.
“It’s been a year when we have seen our members thrive,” said Lo-Bue Said, who reported that the membership’s collective turnover has risen by 69% over the last year and now exceeds £7.6bn in the UK annually.
The Big Celebration Lunch first took place in 2016.
Winners at Big Celebration Lunch 2023
Airline of the Year
Emirates
Tour Operator of the Year
Classic Collection
Supporting Partner of the Year
Holiday Extras
Accommodation Partner of the Year
Expedia TAAP
Latitude Supplier of the Year
Celebrity Cruises
Innovation Award – Leisure Travel
Jet2 Holidays
Innovation Award – Business Travel
British Airways
Trade Support Team of the Year
Classic Collection
Destination Partner of the Year
Tourism Australia
Advantage Holiday Agent of the Year
Keir Woodward Travel
Advantage Financial Services Agent of the Year
Ocky White Travel
Member Innovator of the Year
White’s Travel
Most Engaged Advantage Global Network Partner
Hickory Global Partners
Best Marketing Initiative/Campaign
Global Travel Management Sales and Marketing Team
Most Engaged Latitude Member
Beverley Travel
The Advantage Advocate of the Year
Paul Hardwick, Fred Olsen Travel
ESG Champion of the Year
Ashley Quint, TravelTime World
Employee of the Year
Trevor Ridler, Fred Olsen Travel
Talent Nurturer of the Year
Lisa Henning, Inspire Europe
Emerging Talent Award
Olivia Cairns, Creative Travel Co
Spotlight Award
Scott Pawley, Global Travel Management