Nominations are being sought for a new Contribution to Travel award that will be bestowed at the TTG Top 50 ceremony upon a travel agency boss who has achieved not only success with their own retail business, but also contributed more widely to the travel industry.
Industry colleagues are asked to nominate senior leaders in retail who have demonstrated an innovative approach to doing business, or inspired others through their leadership, or given outstanding commitment to their local community, for example.
This award, sponsored by Scenic and Emerald Waterways, is just one of four categories making their debut in 2019.
Also new for this year is the 2019 Customer Service Champion award, sponsored by Iberostar. This accolade will recognise one individual agent for a specific case in which they went above and beyond to deliver extraordinary customer service to their client.
Our journalist judges will each listen out during their judging interviews for examples of agents going the extra mile to then create a shortlist of five outstanding stories, from which one winner will be selected.
The new 2019 Community Hero award, meanwhile, is sponsored by Gran Canaria and will recognise one individual agent or one team who has made an exceptional contribution to their local community. Our journalist judges will again be looking out for the best examples of agencies supporting local organisations, charities and businesses to draw up a shortlist of five, from which one winner will be selected.
Crucial next steps
The shortlist for the TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies 2019 was announced in December, revealing which five high street branches in each of the 12 regions received the best average rating from our supplier panel. The shortlist also included the five top- rated companies in six nationwide and two special categories.
New for 2019 in the nationwide categories was Top River Cruise Agency, sponsored by APT, recognising river cruising as a sector distinct from ocean cruise.
The next stage of judging will see all shortlisted agencies be assessed by a TTG journalist and our sponsor partners over the next two months to decide the 50 that will join the list.
TTG Media group editor Pippa Jacks said: “Each year since its inception, we have honed and developed the TTG Top 50 initiative to make it even more relevant and to recognise even more of the very best travel agencies in the business.
“The enhancements we’ve made for 2019 will enable some of the incredible stories of customer service and community service that we learn about during the judging process to really shine, while our Contribution to Travel award will recognise a travel agent who has made a significant impact not only in their own business but also in championing and evolving the travel retail sector more widely.”
All shortlisted agencies receive one complimentary ticket to the ceremony, taking place on April 25 at the Vox centre in Birmingham, with additional tickets now on sale.
