Trailfinders was named the best travel agency for over-50s travellers at this year’s Silver Travel Awards.
It was the first time an agency category had been added to the awards, which took place at the BAFTA headquarters on London’s Piccadilly.
The event was hosted by TV presenter and consumer champion, Dame Esther Rantzen, who is also the founder of SilverLine, a free, 24-hour, confidential helpline for isolated and lonely older people.
More than 140,000 consumer votes were cast across 21 categories in the awards, which are run by Silver Travel Advisor.
A special Silver Service Award for ‘A Lifetime in Travel’ was presented to veteran broadcaster and presenter John Carter, who was serenaded on stage by a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.
Debbie Marshall, managing director Silver Travel Advisor, said: "John is someone whose name has become synonymous with travel. Our silver travellers grew up with John’s resort reports and exotic adventures on ITV’s Wish You Were Here and BBC’s Holiday programme.
"Our collective travel horizons widened as John took us to destinations we might never have heard or – or dreamt of travelling to – before he whetted our holiday appetites. He is a true travel icon and a natural communicator: insightful, amusing and always great company."
Now in their fifth year, the awards were supported by gold sponsors Shearings and Avis and silver sponsors Saga Holidays and Emerald Waterways.
Here’s a list of this year’s winners (pictured below):
|
Best Ocean Cruise Line |
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines |
|
Best Luxury Cruise Line |
Silversea Cruises |
|
Best Specialist or Expedition Cruise Line |
Hurtigruten |
|
Best River Cruise Line |
Viking River Cruises |
|
Best Luxury River Cruise Line |
Viking River Cruises |
|
Best City Breaks Operator |
Shearings |
|
Best Escorted Tour Operator (UK Tours) |
Shearings |
|
Best Escorted Tour Operator (Europe And Long”Haul) |
Saga Holidays |
|
Best Luxury Escorted Tour Operator |
Titan Travel |
|
Best Cultural Tour Operator |
Jules Verne |
|
Best Activity or Adventure Tour Operator |
HF Holidays |
|
Best Beach Holiday Operator |
Kuoni |
|
Best Operator For The Single Traveller |
One Traveller |
|
Best Rail Holiday Provider |
Great Rail Journeys |
|
Best Self-Catering Travel Company |
Forest Holidays |
|
Best Villa Holiday Company |
Villa Plus |
|
Best Accessible Travel Provider |
Enable Holidays |
|
Best Car Rental Company |
Avis |
|
Best Airline |
British Airways |
|
Best Overseas Destination |
US |
|
Best Travel Agency |
Trailfinders |
|
|
|
|
Silver iAwards |
|
|
|
|
|
Best For Product |
G Adventures |
|
Best For Marketing |
Cycling for Softies |
