Travel Weekly has teamed up with the Spanish Tourist Board and a range of partners to give away 85 holidays to frontline travel agents to thank them for their incredible efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ultimate Escape giveaway was the brainchild of Turespana UK director Manuel Butler, who wanted to reward the professionalism and care shown by the travel trade in the face of unprecedented challenges over the past two years.
The initiative was announced at the Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards on Tuesday and will see 85 agents offered the opportunity to take a guest on a four-night break to one of four Spanish regions.
The trips, which will include flights, four nights’ B&B accommodation and a special one-day experience including lunch and dinner, will showcase Spain’s beaches, culture, gastronomy, wine and activities.
The regions taking part are Andalucía, the Balearic Islands, Valencia and Galicia, and agents can be nominated by a manager or a supplier partner.
Butler told an audience of more than 1,200 at the Globes: “Tourism is the sector that has most strongly been impacted by Covid around the world. Both in Spain and the United Kingdom, the impact for the sector has been unprecedented.
“We have all suffered in some way, but especially you, the travel agents. We at the Spanish Tourist Office want to do something special for travel agents. Something without any strings attached. Something that is kind and is from the heart. Spain is indebted to you.”
He added: “In these difficult times, we want to recognise how you have supported us throughout the years. This is not about business, it’s about people. The foundations of tourism are people and sometimes this point is forgotten.
“Therefore, we will be offering 85 UK travel agents and their guest a no-strings-attached holiday to Spain. We want you to be able to enjoy, relax and switch off and forget about the difficulties.
“I thank the Spanish regions of Andalucía, the Balearic Islands, Valencia and Galicia for the support and generosity. The stars and the heroes nonetheless are the travel agents. We’re not asking that you promote Spain. We’re asking that you relax and accept this recognition.
“Thank you for being all you are, your strength, your energy, enthusiasm and resilience.”
Travel Weekly Group editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley said: “Since the start of the pandemic we have doubled our efforts to fulfil our core pledges of informing, inspiring, connecting and supporting the travel trade, and that commitment remains as we look to the future.
“Our frontline readers have been the real heroes of the travel industry for more than two years, supporting customers and colleagues around the clock with little reward, so when Turespana approached us to discuss a way to give something back to those who most deserve it, we jumped at the chance.
“I would like to thank Manuel, Turespana and all the participating partners for allowing us to offer this incredible opportunity to the travel agent community.”
To nominate a worthy recipient, go to travelweekly.co.uk/UltimateEscape.
Photo: Shutterstock.com/Balate Dorin