This award is about recognising group travel organisers for the positive impact they have on the lives of friends, family, colleagues or the community. It comes with a £2,000 prize to spend on a holiday.
We have loved receiving your entries and nominations and hearing about the group travel organisers who have made a real difference to others.
The deadline has now passed to enter or nominate for this award. The finalists will be invited to take part in an interview, via Zoom, with this year’s panel of judges and then the winner will be announced during the Group Leisure & Travel Awards ceremony which will be staged virtually and broadcast online on 28th October, 2021.
More about the award
The GTO of the Year Award® is part of the annual Group Leisure & Travel Awards initiative. You can still vote in the other categories here. The winners will be announced during the Group Leisure & Travel Awards ceremony later this year.
The winner will receive £2,000 to spend on a holiday to remember; previous winners have chosen to visit destinations including Austria, Italy and Turkey.
Last year’s winner was… Christine Bennett of Deaf Group Holidays
Christine is the organiser for Deaf Group Holidays which enables deaf people to travel with peace of mind knowing that they have a qualified British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter throughout their trip.
Christine explained: “As a profoundly deaf BSL user myself, I recognised there was a lack of suitable provision for deaf people wishing to travel with other deaf people and accompanied by a BSL interpreter. Seeing the groups together and enjoying themselves is the most rewarding aspect. I am immensely proud of the positive feedback I receive at the end of each holiday.”
“I also feel that by arranging holidays for deaf people, I fill a gap in the holiday market thereby enabling deaf people to travel with other deaf people so they don’t feel the social isolation, insecurity, or miss out on information which you often do when travelling with a group of hearing people.”
Christine was announced as the winner during the Group Leisure & Travel Awards last October.
On discovering she had won, Christine said: “I’m absolutely gobsmacked, so shocked and so pleased. I feel very honoured – it’s for the group, not just for me, they’re a lovely group of people and I know they’ll be over the moon for me.”
You can watch the on-demand video of the 2020 Group Leisure & Travel Awards, ceremony including Christine’s reaction by clicking here.
For more information about the Group Leisure & Travel Awards click here.
