British Travel Awards 2007 – trade and consumer categories go live

The travelling public and industry professionals are now voting in The British Travel Awards 2007. 

The 2007 awards scheme features more than 100 trade and consumer categories and is supported by national consumer media and travel industry partners. 

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 15 in London and will, once again, play host to World Travel Market’s last-night Gala Dinner.

The British Travel Awards 2007 is also continuing its support of the global charity, Just A Drop.

Consumer opinions and votes will be encouraged via regular updates to more than 500,000 consumers via CD-Traveller owned by Consumerdata, specialists in travel and leisure research. 

Also, weekly features, adverts and promotions via media partners The Sunday Times, TimesOnLine, Yahoo and Sky Travel Shop will all go towards gathering relevant consumer opinions on today’s travel industry. 

Along with simply voting, The British Travel Awards 2007 will be asking consumers to take part in an online survey compiled in association with Consumerdata, working in conjunction with the Manchester Business School on customer research. 

Event director Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “The British Travel Awards continues to maintain its independence and reputation for integrity and innovation – and this year we will see more of that, starting with our consumer research survey which will form part of the voting process. 

“We believe its about more than just number-crunching, and by working with Consumerdata we will not only be in a position to gather more consumer opinions than ever before, but we will also gain an insight into how and why the consumer makes particular travel choices.”

The independently verified results aim to ensure that The British Travel Awards 2007 delivers the most relevant consumer opinions ever achieved for a travel industry awards programme, she added. 

Adrian Lawes, research director of Consumerdata, said: “What makes a consumer book a particular type of holiday and what factors bring them to making that choice is as important today as the view of travel professionals within the industry. 

“A British Travel Award is an accolade that the winners can rightly be proud of and it is a benchmark that consumers can easily recognise as an indicator of excellence in travel. We are delighted to be part of that process.”

Trade nominations have also gone live this week giving travel professionals the chance to nominate who they think deserves to go forward to the voting stage across all sectors of the industry. Nominations will close on June 2, and from June 30 voting for the shortlisted companies in each category will commence. 

Field Marketing Solutions Ltd will undertake travel agency visits during the summer to collect agent votes and regular communications via TravelMole, AITO, The Triton Group, WTM, ITT and other travel partners will also encourage the all important votes from the industry.

As introduced in 2006, the voting process will be “gated” with votes being verified by ABTA/Consortia number – and cross checked by postcode and email address to minimise multiple voting and to ensure fair play at the voting stage. 

Additionally, finalists in the trade voted categories will be required to complete criteria questionnaires and submit information to the BTA Panel of industry experts before the winners are announced at The British Travel Awards.

The awards event is expected to attract more than 1,000 travel industry professionals, and promises to be the most relevant and exciting of its kind. 

Executive producer Jonathan Hitchens said: “Along with the usual Champagne reception, four course dinner, live entertainment, high quality production values and after show party, this year the networking opportunities will be second to none with Cabaret Lounge, Nightclub and Chat Bars open until 4am.

“With new awards for the best and worst customer service performance across all sectors of the industry, I’m sure there will be a lot of talking going on until the early hours, and we are only too happy to oblige with the appropriate facilities.”

Tables and individual seats for The British Travel Awards can be booked online and full details of how to nominate and vote are also listed on the website: www.britishtravelawards.com