UK travellers are snapping up no-fly holidays and there were golds galore for tour firms at the 2022 travel ‘Oscars’ - held at London's Battersea Evolution centre and hosted by TV presenter Alison Hammond.
The British Travel Awards (BTA) gala evening followed a July-October public vote in 62 categories covering a comprehensive range of products and services experienced by customers when planning, booking and going on their getaways.
It attracted more than 618,000 entries and is regarded as the the travel industry’s leading awards, plus it is the UK’s largest consumer voted programme.
Escorted coach tour company Shearings picked up four golds in the large company category, including Best Travel Company for Escorted Group Holidays, for which there were 25 businesses nominated. Shearings’ sister coach holiday company, Leger Holidays, collected three golds in the medium category.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines won the award for Best Cruise Line for No-Fly Holidays.
Staying on the water, Brittany Ferries triumphed with four awards for their services to Central/Western Europe, Southern Europe/Canaries, Best Ferry Operator for Routes from/to UK Ports and Best Travel Company for Family Holidays.
The coveted Best Cruise Line for Ocean/Expedition voyages was awarded to Norwegian with P&O Cruises winning the Best Cruise Line for Family Holidays. Hays Travel was awarded Best Travel Agency for Cruise Bookings.
BTA director of events and partnerships Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “Both in the UK and abroad this year our voters were determined to have their holidays, despite a few airport and airline issues.’’
All BTA public voters were entered in a draw for a holiday prize bonanza worth around £45,000, with cruises, tropical sunshine trips, a safari, staycations and more given away in a draw.
*Reach plc, with more than 130 national and regional news brands across both print and online - including this newspaper - is the official media partner of the 2022 BTAs and executives and travel editors from the company presented awards, along with industry leaders.
Find out more at britishtravelawards.com.
Full list of the BTA winners 21/22
Some of the awards are divided into small, medium and large companies - we've listed these respectively where applicable.
- Best Travel Company for Arts & Culture Holidays - Ace Cultural Tours, Mercury Holidays
- Best Travel Company for Safari Holidays - Travel Department, Africa Sky, Newmarket Holidays
- Best Travel Company for Special Interest Holidays - Andante Travels, GN Holidays & Voyages, Inghams
- Best Travel Company to the Indian Ocean - Honeymoon Dreams, Kuoni, Blue Bay Travel
- Best Travel Company to the Caribbean/Central America - Love Cuba, Tropical Sky, Blue Bay Travel
- Best Travel Company for All-Inclusive Holidays - Star Tours, Blue Bay Travel
- Best Travel Company for Villa Holidays - Bookings for You, Solmar Villas, James Villa Holidays
- Best Travel Company for Coach Holidays - Brightwater Holidays, Leger Holidays, Caledonian Travel
- Best Travel Company To Central/Western Europe - Headwater, Brittany Ferries
- Best Travel Company to Southern Europe/Canaries - Cyprus Paradise, Brittany Ferries, Jet2/Jet2holidays
- Best Travel Company for Family Holidays - Canterbury Travel, Brittany Ferries Holidays, James Villa Holidays
- Best Travel Company for Lakes & Mountains Holidays - TUI
- Best Travel Company To Nordic Destinations - Canterbury Travel, Santa Claus Trips
- Best Travel Company to Sub-Saharan Africa - Distant Journeys, Hayes & Jarvis, Newmarket Holidays
- Best Travel Company to Australasia/Oceania - Distant Journeys, Titan Travel, Travelbag
- Best Travel Company for Luxury Holidays - Elegant Resorts, Kuoni, Travelbag
- Best Travel Company for Walk/Trek/Cycling Holidays - EverTrek, Macs Adventure
- Best Travel Company to Hellenic Europe - Exclusively Lindos, Ionian & Aegean Island Holidays, Olympic Holidays
- Best Travel Company for Wildlife & Nature Holidays - Naturetrek, Exodus Travels
- Best Travel Company for Adventure Holidays - The Bucket List Company, Exodus Travels
- Best Travel Company for Culinary & Wine Holidays - Flavours Holidays
- Best Travel Company for Rail Holidays - The Railway Touring Company, Rail Discoveries, Great Rail Journeys
- Best Travel Company to South America - Journey Latin America, Hayes & Jarvis, Newmarket Holidays
- Best Travel Company for Special Occasion Holidays - Honeymoon Dreams, Kuoni, Travelbag
- Best Travel Company for City/Short Breaks - Travel Center, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays
- Best Travel Company for Singles Holidays - One Traveller, Just You, Shearings
- Best Travel Company for Touring Holidays - My Canada Trips, Leger Holidays, Shearings
- Best Travel Company for Winter Sun Holidays - Mercury Holidays, TUI
- Best Travel Company to Canada/USA - My Canada Trips, Titan Travel, Travelbag
- Best Travel Company for Tailor-Made Holidays - My Canada Trips, Solmar Villas, Travelbag
- Best Travel Company for Activity/Sports Holidays - Wildwind & Healthy Options, Neilson Active Holidays
- Best Travel Company to the Middle East/North Africa - Red Sea Holidays, Travel Talk Tours, Travelbag
- Best Travel Company for Escorted Group Holidays - Travel Department, Titan Travel, Shearings
- Best Travel Company for Summer Sun Holidays - Solmar Villas, TUI
- Best Travel Company to the Far East/Central Asia - Wendy Wu Tours, Titan Travel
- Best Travel Company to Southern/Southeast Asia - Wendy Wu Tours, Titan Travel
- Best Travel Company for Ski/Winter Sports Holidays - Ski Safari, Neilson Active Holidays, Crystal Ski Holidays
Staycations
- Best Company for UK Holiday Home Rentals - Beach Retreats (small), Coast & Country Cottages (medium), Sykes Holiday Cottages (large)
- Best Company for UK Family Holidays - Bluestone National Park Resort, Haven, Parkdean Resorts
- Best Company for UK Coach/Touring Holidays - Leger Holidays, Shearings
- Best Company for UK Breaks Holidays - Holiday Extras UK Short Breaks, Titan Travel, Parkdean Resorts
- Best Company for UK Parks & Lodges Holidays - Cofton Holidays, Verdant Leisure, Parkdean Resorts
Holiday bookings
- Best Online/Call Centre Travel Retailer - Blue Bay Travel
- Best Travel Website for Accommodation Booking - Booking.com
- Best Travel Website for Flight Bookings - Globehunters
- Best High Street Travel Agency - Stewart Travel
- Best Travel Website for Offers/Price Comparison - Travelzoo
- Best National Travel Retailer - Hays Travel
Cruises and ferries
- Best Cruise Line for No-Fly Cruise Holidays - Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Best Travel Agency for Cruise Holidays - Hays Travel
- Best Cruise Line for Ocean/Expedition Voyages - Norwegian Cruise Line
- Best Cruise Line for Family Holidays - P&O Cruises
- Best Operator for Short Sea/Mini Cruises - P&O Ferries
- Best Cruise Line for Ultra-Luxury Holidays - Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Best Cruise Line for Luxury Holidays - Saga
- Best Cruise Line for River Cruise Holidays - Viking
- Best Ferry Operator for Routes from/to UK Ports - Brittany Ferries
- Best Travel Company for Sailing/Flotilla Holidays - Sunsail
Extras and add-ons
- Best Company for Airport Parking - APH (Airport Parking & Hotels)
- Best Company for Holiday Car Hire - Europcar
- Best Company for Travel Insurance - Staysure
Best Retailer for Forex/Travel Money - Post Office