Malta to honour UK agents with new award

To mark the inaugural National Travel Agent Day on Friday (24 July), the tourist board is asking for recommendations on who should be named Travel Agent of the Year 2020.

The winner will receive a three-night city break for two at the Casa Rocca Piccola palace (pictured) in Valletta.

The winner’s nominator can also claim a place on the Malta Academy 2021 fam trip to the Maltese Islands in April next year.

Winners must be recommended by a fellow travel industry professional in a 200-word entry via office.uk@visitmalta.com by the 24 August.

The Agent of the Year will be announced on 28 August 2020, with details will announced on the Malta Tourism Authority’s Facebook page.

Malta Tourism Authority UK & Ireland director, Tolene van der Merwe, said: “Travel agents have been our frontline staff during this pandemic. We have been in touch with so many during lockdown and heard how hard they have worked on behalf of their clients through a very challenging time in our industry.”

Van der Merwe said Malta was “so grateful” for agent’s continued support in selling and promoting Malta, Gozo and Comino.

“We welcomed 650,000 British travellers to our shores last year and without travel agents we would not be as popular as we are today. This is one of the reasons why we love the concept of National Travel Agent Day UK and wanted to create our own way of thanking agents for their dedication over the many years, in recent times and in years to come.

“Since we reopened our borders on 15 July, we have been welcoming British tourists back to enjoy our sunshine, culture, food and warm spirit – we look forward to rewarding some very special travel agents with a trip of their own soon.”

Malta Tourism Authority trade trainer, Mimi Visheva, added: “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with many agents over lockdown and their resilience and attitude has been outstanding, so we cannot wait to see all the entries come in.

“The people of Malta are famed for being lively, friendly and passionate and we want to reward kindred spirits in the UK, maybe there is a colleague who continually goes above and beyond for their clients, maybe they have shown great bravery like our own historic Knights of the Order of Saint John or perhaps they have created something altruistic in these challenging times? Whatever it might be - we want to hear about it and share some positivity.”