British travel awards unveil green outbound champions

Very high calibre this year for airlines and package holidays

BTA  has announced the companies in the running to win the highly prized 2010 awards in the three environmental and socially responsible categories.  The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday 4th November 2010 in front of an audience of more than a thousand people, with TV cameras poised to record the moment and LBC radio presenting live from Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park, South West London, where the event will take place.

The shortlisted companies are:-
Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Airline:

• QATAR AIRWAYS
• THOMAS COOK AIRLINES
• THOMSON AIRWAYS

Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Budget Airline:

• FLYBE
• THOMAS COOK AIRLINES

Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Package Holiday Companies:

• EXODUS TRAVEL
• FIRST CHOICE
• NOMADIC THOUGHTS
• TRIBES TRAVEL

These specialist awards and the ‘of the year’ categories differ from all other awards, which are decided purely by consumer votes, as they required the submission of a criteria form.

 The entries will be assessed by The British Travel Awards Academy – a panel of senior industry professionals, financial analysts, journalists and travel gurus – whose adjudication accounts for 50% of the marks, with the other 50% being awarded according to number of consumer votes. The winner is determined by adding the academy marks to the percentage share of votes cast.

BTA’s chief executive officer Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “The calibre of entries for the environmental and socially responsible awards was very high this year and the shortlisted companies are to be congratulated for getting this far.  All companies shortlisted for any of the one hundred awards should remember the importance of the voice of the consumer in the British Travel Awards and make a last effort to lobby for votes before voting closes on 30 September.”

Ms Barnes Burton added: “Those wishing to buy places for the awards ceremony mustn’t delay as we are nearly sold out!!”

Although best known for their annual awards, The British Travel Awards also publish the results of the largest survey of UK holidaymakers travel preferences and plans.  When voting for the awards participants are invited to take part in the survey – last year more than 16,000 did just that.  This year it is expected that this number will be greatly exceeded. The full 2010 report – compiled from the statistics and providing a snapshot of first hand views and planned holiday preferences – will be available in January 2011.

Valere Tjolle

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Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suitewww.travelmole.com/stories/1143624.php