We asked our 2024 Group Leisure & Travel Awards partners why groups are so important, and what they’re looking forward to about the ceremony moving to London.
“It is an honour for us to partner the prestigious Group Travel Organiser of the Year Award®, which recognises and rewards the shortlisted nominees’ great work. It was wonderful to get that insight from all of the finalists last year and it provided us with a unique view of what a GTO does. It has certainly made us more aware and encourages us to work with them so everyone can enjoy the warmest welcome at sea when sailing with us.
“The move to London and new time of year of the awards will make the event even bigger and better! Separating the awards from the Group Leisure & Travel Show will allow the celebrations to continue without the worry of showcasing the following day.”
Alan Rennie, Ambassador Cruise Line
“Groups are incredibly important to Chester Zoo. As a conservation charity we are committed to preventing extinction and empowering people to make positive choices towards sustainable living, and what better way to start than by encouraging people to visit us as part of a group? Every coach that visits us is equal to 15 fewer cars on the road, meaning that group bookings are helping us in our efforts to tackle the global extinction crisis, at a time when it’s needed most!
“It will be great to see everyone in London for the ceremony. As the leading awards for the group travel industry, it’s fitting that they are going to be held in a venue as wonderful as the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington.”
Charlotte Howle, Chester Zoo
“Working with group travel organisers is very rewarding. It’s great to assist them with all their hard work and commitment which cumulates in many more people enjoying travel and seeing the UK in all its splendour. Without our valued organisers and committed employees many people would just not get to travel as they currently do. Businesses like Daish’s Holidays play a small part in making this happen, year in year out.
“Evenings like this are always enjoyable. Regardless of result, it is an honour to just have been recognised by group travel organisers as worthy of a finalist spot. It’s about celebrating all that is good within our industry and joining with others to acknowledge exceptional business and people within it.”
Martin Jenkins, Daish’s Holidays
“Groups are Dunwood - 80% of our business is predominantly from groups who travel with us from all over the UK and we pride ourselves on the customer service we offer. Both myself as group sales manager, Zoe Poston and Stuart Parker have all been awarded The Excellence Award, which shows how important and valuable our groups are by giving them the personal touch, nothing being too much trouble. Our customers are not just a postcode on our database, they are part of the Dunwood family.
“The Royal Garden Hotel in prestigious Kensington is a fabulous venue for the Group Leisure & Travel Awards. We currently have so many groups who book with Dunwood who live in and around the area so it is extra special for us to be hosted in our capital city. It will be a truly amazing evening.”
Mandy Hill, Dunwood
“Having won the Best Cruise Line category at the Group Leisure & Travel Awards no less than 11 times, more than anyone else, we feel we know how to deliver a first-class experience for all our groups that travel with us. Groups are important to us and we like to think we show this by offering tailor-made group quotes which include a number of incentives such as discounted group fares and free group escort places for the group travel organiser. The awards ceremony is sure to be an even bigger and better event than before as we head to London.”
Ellie Fulcher, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Entertaining, networking, rewarding or simply partying… come and join us at the GLT Awards dinner and ceremony on Thursday 27th June at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington.
“We love the mix of groups that we get. We have the ability to work directly with shows to ensure groups get the best deals, keeping theatre accessible to all. The Group Line team are all looking forward to attending the event in London. With the event being much closer to home, it means that the whole team can enjoy an evening which is sure to be full of fun and entertainment.”
Ben Delahunty-Jones, Group Line
“We welcome groups of all ages to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Without groups, our theatre simply wouldn’t be full. They make up a big part of our audiences and are important for the longevity of the production. Our favourite thing about welcoming groups to the show is the shared experience they have by watching the plot unfold together. We understand not everyone walks into the theatre as a Harry Potter super fan but we love hearing the chatter and the debate that often happens amongst group members at dinner between Parts One and Two and after the show.
“The UK has so many wonderful things for groups to do and we know that Group Leisure & Travel readers would traverse anywhere for these awards. For us, they’re the pinnacle of the group’s year and we are delighted the Group Leisure & Travel Awards are moving to London.”
Ellie Shore, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
“Groups are very important to Irish Ferries. Group organisers and coach operators who are planning to travel across the Irish Sea with us can choose from up to six sailings a day between Holyhead to Dublin or sailings from Pembroke to Rosslare and Dover to Calais, allowing them flexibility that suits their needs to explore the delights of Ireland or mainland Europe. We’re thrilled to be a GLT Awards Partner and can’t wait to celebrate all of the amazing people, places and providers in the industry at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington. It will be an evening to remember I’m sure, especially with it being at a new five-star venue in the heart of London.”
Marie McCarthy, Irish Ferries
“Group visits are so important to LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort as we know that we are playing a part in building wonderful memories for groups from across the UK and globally, who without visiting as part of a group may not have the opportunity to come and see the amazing things inside the resort. I’ve heard great things about the new London venue, and personally have great memories of group trips to London attractions, so I know it’s an ideal place to host these prestigious awards.”
Rupert Viney, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
“LeShuttle remains an important cog in their journey to and from the EU, bringing lasting memories for many travellers. From first-timers going under the English Channel to seasoned travellers visiting Christmas markets on the Continent, there is something for everyone. We love delivering groups safely to Europe and being that pathway towards many memorable and enjoyable experiences. I can’t wait to celebrate at the new five-star venue in London.”
Tracy Bayliss, LeShuttle
“Being able to offer and fulfil individual group needs is a proud part of the Warner business. We strive to make memories that last a lifetime and none more so than with our group guests.
“The Group Leisure & Travel Awards is the ceremony recognised across the industry and I’m sure the new venue will encourage more suppliers to attend, giving a better opportunity for networking.”
Martyn Stagg, Warner Hotels
“Groups and group organisers are part of our history at Ramble Worldwide, they play a hugely important role in our strategy that has helped shape the organisation, our processes, and offerings.
“The role of a group organiser is never easy, balancing the needs and opinions of many individuals, but for us matching those demands with the perfect product, and seeing the groups of friends, families or those with a similar interest enjoy their holiday is so important and rewarding. The GLT Awards is special wherever it is held, but the new venue in Central London looks like a spectacular and fitting location for 2024.”
Paco Gonzalez, Ramble Worldwide
“Groups are an important part of our growth strategy as we are still a relatively young destination. Being in southern Wales makes us ideal for tourists at certain times of the year, however in quieter times our group visitors make up the majority of our footfall. We have invested our efforts in to producing a groups programme that will assist group organisers and operators in providing the best day out for their guests. All our team enjoy it when we have a coach arrive full of people all looking forward to exploring the home of the original maker and our 1,100 years of history.
“This exciting new venue gives us an opportunity to invite partners that maybe couldn’t make the ceremony when it was in Milton Keynes. We are now able to make use of the following day to visit some key partners in London which we would’t normally have the chance to do.”
Paul Brandwood, The Royal Mint
“The group travel industry is a very special and satisfying area of travel to operate in which makes up a significant part of our business.
“We love working with a wide variety of group travel organisers to help them create many exclusive tours all over the world. I am also very excited to see the awards move to London, the greatest city on Earth!”
Ellen Walker, Travel Editions
The Isle of Wight is a popular all year-round destination for day trips and short stays, offering guests different locations, hotels, and facilities. Wightlink will continue to support operators and guests with providing the easiest way to travel across the Solent with great customer experience. London is a great city to host the awards, the Wightlink team look forward to engaging with guests from all over the UK, whilst exploring what the city has to offer.
Kirstie Higgins-Day, Wightlink
“It is not important, it is essential to support the Group Leisure & Travel Awards. London will be easy to travel to and we have lots of choices of places to stay which is great. Active group organisers are so important to the New Meridian. We are like one big family who support each other in doing and giving the very best experiences to our groups.”
Sylvia Saxon, The New Meridian
For suppliers, attractions and companies interested in becoming an official Awards Partner phone 01908 613323, email sales@groupleisureandtravel.com or visit the Awards Partners page.
Calling attractions and suppliers… become an Awards Partner for 2024 and benefit from fantastic packages that maximise your branding across print, online, email - and of course the event itself.
Meet the 2024 finalists of a very special annual award that highlights the amazing experiences and memories that brilliant group travel organisers create for their members.
We catch up with magician and comedian Pete Firman ahead of the 2024 Group Leisure & Travel Awards, to find out what our host will bring to the ceremony and where his love of magic came from.
We speak to Pat Crooks, who still organises for the Freemans Sport & Leisure Club, about winning the first Group Travel Organiser of the Year Award®.
