The operator was nominated for the accolade by TTG, WTM’s UK media partner, for its hard work and that of low-cost airline Jet2.com in supporting both customers and agent partners during such a tumultuous year.

WTM London’s senior director, Simon Press said companies chosen for World Travel Leaders awards were “truly representative of what is good in our industry”.

Jet2holiday’s head of trade Alan Cross received the award from TTG Media group editor Pippa Jacks during a virtual ceremony on Monday (2 November). 

In an interview with Jacks after accepting the prize, Cross said Jet2holidays had already seen “a steady but positive start to 2021”.

“It’s early days so we don’t know which way that’s going to go, so it’s very interesting. What we’re concentrating on is doing what we do best – offering good value, free child places, promotions and added value – to encourage those bookings to come in.

“The speed at which certain destinations are selling at is quite phenomenal – others need hard work and a bit of a push. So really, it’s business as usual as far as that goes.” 

Cross said he believed the UK had seen a “resurgence” in the number of consumers choosing to book through a travel agent amid the uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

Asked what barriers and challenges he believed lay ahead for the recovery of the UK travel industry, Cross called on government to deliver more “evidence-based decisions” around its travel corridors policy and implement an airport testing scheme.

“That is important to make sure people can leave and return to the country as simply as possible. The third thing would be a little bit more advice from the Foreign Office when they make difficult decisions," he said.

“We need to work with the cards we’re dealt with – it’s [Covid] not going to go away so [government] needs to change its policy to suit that.”