The most voted for British Travel Awards yet was held last night with representatives from across the industry celebrating in New York-themed style.
The prestigious awards, backed by sponsors including Avis, feefo, Shearings, Newmarket Holidays and TravelMole, was hosted by comedian Hal Cruttenden.
The CAA’s head of consumer protection Richard Jackson was given a ‘Special Recognition Award’ as he steps down from the post.
BTA chairman Roger Allard said: "Richard Jackson has shown an intelligence and passion for travel and the people and companies within it during his career .The travel industry certainly would not have survived the recession relatively intact without his support and for that we thank him most sincerely."
The ‘Special Recognition Award’ will now be an annual fixture at the BTAs.
More than one million people voted for this year’s winner and it was a closely fought contest in many categories.
Here are the winners:
BEST FAMILY HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – THOMSON, Medium – CANVAS HOLIDAYS and Small – CANTERBURY TRAVEL
BEST LUXURY HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – KUONI, Medium – DESTINOLOGY, Small – IMAGINE TRAVEL
BEST ALL INCLUSIVE HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – MARK WARNER HOLIDAYS, Small – LUXURY DESTINATIONS
BEST SINGLES HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – JUST YOU, Small – ONE TRAVELLER
BEST WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – VIRGIN HOLIDAYS, Medium – TROPICAL SKY, Small – IONIAN WEDDINGS
BEST SPECIAL INTEREST HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL
BEST ACTIVITY/SPORTS HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – NEILSON ACTIVE HOLIDAYS, Medium – MARK WARNER HOLIDAYS, Small – ACTIVITIES ABROAD
BEST SKI & WINTERSPORTS HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – CRYSTAL SKI HOLIDAYS, Medium – MARK WARNER HOLIDAYS, Small – SKI AMIS
BEST ESCORTED TOURS HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – APT GUIDED TOURS & RIVER CRUISES
BEST ESCORTED ADVENTURE HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – EXODUS TRAVELS, Small – GRAND AMERICAN ADVENTURES
BEST COACH HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – BACK-ROADS TOURING
BEST TRAIN HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS, Medium – RAILBOOKERS, Small – PLANET RAIL
BEST CAMPING & MOBILE HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – PARKDEAN HOLIDAYS, Medium – CANVAS HOLIDAYS, Small – BRITTANY FERRIES HOLIDAYS
BEST SAFARI, WILDLIFE & NATURE HOLIDAY COMPANY
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – IMAGINE AFRICA
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO WESTERN EUROPE
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – CANVAS HOLIDAYS, Small – BRITTANY FERRIES HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO CENTRAL & NORTHERN EUROPE
Medium – TRAVELSPHERE, Small – REGENT HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO EAST & SOUTHEAST EUROPE
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – CYPRUS PARADISE
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE IBERIAN PENINSULA & ISLANDS
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – SIMPSON TRAVEL
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE ITALIAN PENINSULA & MALTA
Large – NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS, Medium – CITALIA, Small – LONG TRAVEL
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO HELLENIC EUROPE
Large – OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS, Medium – IONIAN & AEGEAN ISLAND HOLIDAYS, Small – SIMPSON TRAVEL
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE USA
Large – VIRGIN HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – TREKAMERICA
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO CANADA
Large – CANADIAN AFFAIR, Medium – TITAN, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE CARIBBEAN & BERMUDA
Large – VIRGIN HOLIDAYS, Medium – THE HOLIDAY PLACE, Small – LETSGO2.COM
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – IMAGINE LATIN AMERICA
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO NORTH AFRICA
Large – THOMSON, Medium – RED SEA HOLIDAYS, Small – DISCOVER EGYPT
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE MIDDLE EAST
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – EMIRATES HOLIDAYS, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO AUSTRALASIA
Large SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – AUSTRAVEL, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO SOUTHERN ASIA
Large – NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO SOUTHEAST ASIA
Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – IMAGINE ASIA
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO EAST & CENTRAL ASIA
Medium – TITAN, Small – WENDY WU TOURS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE INDIAN OCEAN
Large – KUONI UK, Medium – EMIRATES HOLIDAYS, Small – EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP
BEST NATIONAL TRAVEL RETAILER
Winner – THOMSON
BEST REGIONAL TRAVEL AGENCY
Winner – TRAILFINDERS
BEST LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY
Winner – SPEAR TRAVELS
BEST INDEPENDENT TRAVEL AGENCY
Winner – THE HOLIDAY PLACE
BEST ONLINE/CALL CENTRE TRAVEL AGENCY
Winner – TRAVEL REPUBLIC
BEST CRUISE HOLIDAY RETAILER
Winner – CRUISE NATION
BEST FLIGHT BOOKING WEBSITE
Winner – OPODO
BEST HOTEL BOOKING WEBSITE
Winner – TRAVEL REPUBLIC
BEST FERRY BOOKING WEBSITE
Winner – P&O FERRIES
BEST VILLA/SELF CATERING HOLIDAY BOOKING COMPANY
Large – JAMES VILLAS, Medium – VILLA PLUS, Small – IONIAN & AEGEAN ISLAND HOLIDAYS
BEST LARGE SHIP CRUISE LINE
Winner – P&O CRUISES
BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE
Winner – CUNARD
BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE
Winner – P&O CRUISES
BEST SPECIALIST CRUISE LINE (OCEAN)
Winner – SAGA HOLIDAYS
BEST SMALL SHIPS CRUISE LINE
Winner – SAGA HOLIDAYS
BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE
Winner – VIKING RIVER CRUISES
BEST NEW CRUISE SHIP (OCEAN)
Winner- P&O CRUISES
BEST INTERNATIONAL LUXURY HOTEL BRAND
Winner – FOUR SEASONS HOTELS & RESORTS
BEST INTERNATIONAL UPSCALE HOTEL BRAND
Winner – RADISSON BLU
BEST INTERNATIONAL MIDSCALE HOTEL BRAND
Winner – JURYS INN HOTEL GROUP
BEST INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY HOTEL BRAND
Winner – PREMIER INN
BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE HOTEL & RESORT BRAND
Winner – SANDALS RESORTS
BEST ENGLISH CHANNEL OPERATOR
Winner -P&O FERRIES
BEST FERRY/MINI CRUISE OPERATOR
Winner – P&O FERRIES
BEST CAR HIRE PROVIDER
Winner – SIXT Rent-A-Car
BEST TRAVEL DEALS PROVIDER
Winner – TRAVELZOO
BEST TRAVEL REVIEW/RATINGS WEBSITE
Winner – TRIPADVISOR
BEST CONSUMER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE
Winner – NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER
BEST AIRPORT PARKING COMPANY
Winner – APH (Airport Parking & Hotels)
BEST HOLIDAY TRANSFER COMPANY
Winner – TITAN
BEST FOREIGN EXCHANGE/TRAVEL MONEY RETAILER
Winner – FAIRFX
BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE PROVIDER
Winner – POST OFFICE MONEY
BEST HOLIDAY ATTRACTION TICKET PROVIDER
Winner – ATTRACTION TICKETS DIRECT
BEST UK FAMILY HOLIDAY/PARKS OPERATOR
Winner – PARKDEAN HOLIDAYS
BEST UK LUXURY HOTEL BRAND
Winner – SOFITEL
BEST UK UPSCALE HOTEL BRAND
Winner – MARRIOTT
BEST UK MIDSCALE HOTEL BRAND
Winner – BEST WESTERN GB
BEST UK ECONOMY HOTEL BRAND
Winner – PREMIER INN
BEST UK SELF CATERING HOLIDAY BOOKING COMPANY
Large – SYKES COTTAGES, Medium – TOAD HALL COTTAGES, Small – COAST & COUNTRY COTTAGES
BEST UK LEISURE ATTRACTION
Winner – EDEN PROJECT
BEST UK HERITAGE ATTRACTION
Winner – GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
BEST UK HOLIDAY COUNTY OR DESTINATION
Winner – CORNWALL (visitcornwall.com)
BEST UK COASTAL RESORT
Winner – BUDE (visitbude.info)
BEST FERRY OPERATOR FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Winner – P&O FERRIES
BEST HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Winner – HOLIDAYCOTTAGES.CO.UK
BEST CRUISE LINE FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Winner – SAGA HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Large – PARKDEAN HOLIDAYS
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Medium – TITAN
BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Small – MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL
BEST TRAVEL RETAILER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Winner – TRAVEL REPUBLIC
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
RICHARD JACKSON
FEEFO AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE
Medium – HELPFUL HOLIDAYS, Small – TRAFALGAR, Homeworker – FREDDIE SKELTON, Kwik Travel Group
