The operator held its last event at the prestigious BAFTA Piccadilly in February 2020, but acknowledging the dramatically altered landscape this year, will “celebrate the people and businesses leading the way in luxury travel” in a different way.

Carrier’s head of sales Rick Milne said the list will pay tribute to 30 “of the most inspiring business leaders, exceptional travel designers and small companies who, despite the challenges of 2020, have continued to deliver outstanding levels of service and support to their clients”.

Carrier would ordinarily honour its Preferred Partners based on sales performances, but said that this “simply isn’t feasible” at the moment, but that it still wanted to acknowledge the people and businesses in the sector they believe should be recognised for their achievements.

“We are delighted to announce our plans for The Carrier 30 and hope that by shining a light on these fantastic companies in this way, it will not only provide a much needed morale boost, but also give them something to shout about in the coming months,” said Milne.

The Carrier 30: The most inspiring and influential in luxury travel 2021 list will be announced on 5th March, and will be in five areas.

It will feature The Connoisseurs, people who offer something totally unique and exclusive, servicing a select number of affluent clients; The Future Retailers, retail travel brands who are redefining the retail experience for their customers in upscale neighbourhoods with innovative store design; The Innovators, travel professionals who break the mould in terms of their approach and favour a less conventional model; The Luminaries, the luxury travel industry’s most successful directors and leaders who inspire their teams and run businesses of true scale; and The Rising Stars, business owners who raised their profile in the luxury travel industry last year.

“Our annual awards ceremony is one of our most anticipated events, and of course this year it won’t be going ahead in the usual way,” added Milne. “Whilst the past year has been extremely difficult, it has shown the importance of exceptional service and trusted partnerships. It has shown value in businesses who take a human approach and put their customers and staff first, and for us, it is vital that we celebrate these people and businesses.”