- 458 attend 25th anniversary awards
- James Nesbitt comperes evening
- Oasis Travel won travel agent of the year
- Award winners announced in 29 categories
A sell-out attendance of 458 attended the Blue Insurance 25th anniversary Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards in the Slieve Donard, Newcastle Co Down.
The keynote travel agency of the year award went to Oasis Travel. Simon O’Neill won travel consultant of the year. Peter McMinn’s Travel Solutions won the industry award. In all there were 29 Awards presented on the evening covering all sectors of the travel and tourism industry and are voted for by both the public and travel trade. IN keeping with the reputation of the awards as the highlight of the travel social circuit, a hardy group led by host Jonathan Adair sustained the revelries until breakfast at 7am. Ballymena born James Nesbitt compered the awards.
New sponsors included Hastings Hotels, and Tourism Ireland, Headline Sponsor is Blue Insurance and five other category sponsors were back, Stena Line, British Airways, Belfast International Airport, Blue Insurance and Amadeus.
Multiple agency branch was won by Thomson in Castle Ward. The marketing initiative of the year was one of three awards won by Royal Caribbean, for their #Getmetoharmnony initiative.
The 2017 awards will be held at the Slieve Russell Hotel on October 20 2017.
- See video of awards ceremony here.
- See more pictures here or connect with the album on Facebook. The winners:
- Tourist Information Centre – Visit Belfast Welcome Centre
- NI Visitor Attraction – Titanic Belfast
- NI Tourism Marketing Initiative – Tourism Ireland – Game of Thrones
- NI Special Achievement Award – Gerry Lennon
- NI Travel Student of the Year – Gemma Gibson
- Ferry Company – Stena Line
- Insurance Company – Blue Insurance
- Luxury Cruise Line – Silversea
- Specialist Cruise Line – Royal Caribbean International
- Cruise Line – Royal Caribbean International
- Holiday Add-Ons or Car Hire Provider – Holiday Extras
- Airline, Belfast City Airport – Aer Lingus
- Airline, Belfast International Airport – easyJet
- Worldwide Airline – Emirates
- Accommodation-Only Specialist – Get A Bed
- Travel Internet Booking System – Jet2holidays
- Worldwide Tour Operator – Gold Medal / Travel 2
- Specialist Tour Operator – American Holidays
- Luxury Operator – if only…
- Ski Operator – Topflight
- Tour Operator to Europe – Jet2holidays
- Tourist Board – Spanish Tourist Board
- Travel Trade Manager/Representative of the Year – Martin Maclaren
- Sales Support Team to Travel Trade – Jet2holidays
- Travel Industry Award – Travel Solutions
- Travel & Tourism Industry’s Roll of Honour – Julian Simmons
- Travel Marketing Initiative – Get Me On Harmony, Royal Caribbean
- Travel Consultant of the Year – Simon O’Neill
- Multiple Retail Agency Branch – Thomson, Castle Court
- Travel Agent of the Year – Oasis Travel, Howard Street
