The travel trade and group organisers came together to celebrate at the annual Group Leisure & Travel Awards ceremony in London as the winners were announced across 20 categories.
Awards presented included Best UK Attraction, Best Cruise Line and Best Group Dining Experience.
The ceremony took place at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London, on 27th June and was hosted by magician and comedian Pete Firman.
It was held at a new time of year and returned to the capital for the first time since 2005. The response was fantastic with 300 guests in attendance including GTOs, coach tour operators and people from all areas of the group travel trade, providing the ideal opportunity to celebrate and network.
Now in its 28th year, the GLT Awards initiative is organised by Group Leisure & Travel, Britain’s best-read magazine for people who organise group trips and holidays.
Readers vote for the best group attractions, destinations and providers
Dunwood was voted Best Coach or Tour Operator - UK Tours for the sixth time while LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort picked up the trophy for Best UK Attraction for Children & Families.
The Isle of Wight was crowned Best UK Destination for a second year running and readers decided that Lake Garda in Italy was the Best International Destination.
London Transport Museum and Thursford Christmas Spectacular were both first-time winners in the Best Museum or Gallery and Best Christmas Experience categories respectively.
It was the second year in a row that the Tower of London took the award for Best Historic Attraction or Venue, while readers voted for Irish Ferries as the Best Ferry or Fixed Link Operator and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines as Best Cruise Line for groups.
Leger Holidays picked up the trophy for Best Group Tour Operator while Warner Hotels was recognised in the Best Accommodation for Groups category.
“Now the winners and finalists can use their success and hopefully attract even more groups.”
Rob Yandell, Group Leisure & Travel
Group Leisure & Travel publisher, Rob Yandell said: “It was another amazing celebration. We had record voting and an increase in guests attending the ceremony. Awards Partner packages sold out, and everyone has had a brilliant time. Now the winners and finalists can use their success and hopefully attract even more groups.”
“It’s really important to remember that we couldn’t do any of this without our Awards Partners and I want to say a big thank you to them for their invaluable support.”
Thank you to our official 2024 Awards Partners…
For companies and attractions interested in supporting future awards… find more infomation here.
Highlighting group travel organisers
It was Joyce Cook’s time in the spotlight as she was announced as the winner of the Group Travel Organiser of the Year Award®. The Basingstoke & Old Basing U3A organiser will receive £2,000 prize to spend on a holiday.
Described as a lifeline for her group with a sunny disposition and enthusiasm for everywhere they go, Joyce has been a group travel organiser for 35 years, taking members far and wide.
You can read more about Joyce and the other GTO finalists here.
The judges highlighted Joyce’s commitment to her group, going over and above for her members.
Alan Rennie, business development manager (groups) for Ambassador Cruise Line, which partnered the GTO of the Year Award®, was on the panel. He said: “The diverse nature of the trips that the group take was impressive. Joyce has a real sense of responsibility that comes across in her stories – such as looking after singles (so much so that many of them now book twin rooms because of the friendship generated).”
Daniel Pocock, sales development team leader at Potters Resorts and winner of The Excellence Award 2023 was also a judge this year, adding: “Joyce exudes the true spirit of a GTO, her dedication to her club and her members really shines through, she always seems to go above and beyond herself to make sure everybody on her trips is happy and comfortable including those loan travellers who she pays extra attention to.
“Her passion and love for travel is brilliant, her knowledge of the places she visits really shows her abilities, and her quick problem-solving skills to ensure everybody is looked after is fantastic – congratulations Joyce. A truly worthy winner!”
Rewarding great service to groups
The Excellence Award, which recognises an individual in the travel trade for their service to GTOs, was presented to Charlotte Howle, travel trade & tourism officer at Chester Zoo.
Charlotte was described by GTOs as ‘very professional, helpful, passionate and efficient’ and she received the highest number of votes of the 2024 finalists. One GTO said: “The first thing Charlotte always asks is how I am. She always has time for people, nothing is too much trouble.”
You can find out more about Charlotte, and the other Excellence Award finalists, here.
Look out for ongoing reaction - and share yours
Expect more photos, video, reaction, stories and more following on from this year’s awards at www.groupleisureandtravel.com/awards and look out for the highlights in our weekly newsletter which you can subscribe to for free by clicking here.
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