G Adventures has won the inaugural ‘Best Adventure Holiday Tour Operator’ award, while the company’s distributor in Ireland, Sunway, won three awards: ‘Best Sun Holiday Tour Operator’, ‘Best Long Haul Tour Operator’ and ‘Best Agent Friendly Company’. Aer Lingus won ‘Best Airline to Europe’ and ‘Best Airline to North America’, and Emirates also won two awards: ‘Best Long Haul Airline’ and ‘Best Business Class Airline’.
All staff working for a licensed and bonded travel agency anywhere on the island of Ireland were eligible to vote and the voting forms were submitted directly to, and then independently collated and audited by, international accountants and consultants Grant Thornton.
All fully completed, eligible Voting Forms received were entered into a prize draw, with first and second prize winners being randomly selected by Grant Thornton’s computer. Tom Kiernan, Ask Susan Travel, Co Dublin, was the winner of the Irish Travel Trade Awards Voters Prize of a Golden Triangle tour in India, courtesy of Sunway/G Adventures and Irish Travel Trade News, and Tatiana Soukhanova, Skytours Travel, won tickets to the Irish Travel Trade Awards for herself and Rachel Mulligan.
2016 Irish Travel Trade Awards – All the Winners
DESTINATIONS
Best Europe Destination: Spain
Best Americas Destination: Florida
Best Middle East / Africa Destination: Dubai
Best Asia / Pacific Destination: Thailand
Best Sun Destination: Lanzarote
TOUR OPERATORS
Best Sun Holiday Tour Operator: Sunway
Best Ski Tour Operator: Topflight
Best Adventure Holiday Tour Operator: G Adventures
Best Long Haul Tour Operator: Sunway
AIRLINES
Best Airline to Europe: Aer Lingus
Best Airline to North America: Aer Lingus
Best Long Haul Airline: Emirates
Best Business Class Airline: Emirates
SEA TRANSPORT
Best Ferry Company: Irish Ferries
Best Cruise Company: Royal Caribbean International
Best Luxury Cruise Company: Silversea Cruises
Best River Cruise Company: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
LAND TRANSPORT
Best Car Rental Company: Hertz
Best Rail Company: Railshop.ie
TRAVEL AGENCY SERVICES
Best National Tourist Office: Spanish Tourist Office
Best Accommodation Provider: BookaBed.ie
Best Travel Technology Provider: Amadeus
Best Travel Insurance Company: Blue Insurance
ALL COMPANIES
Best Newcomer: Classic Collection Holidays
Best Agent Friendly Individual: Lee Osborne
Best Agent Friendly Company: Sunway
