The ninth annual Clia awards ceremony, which recognises innovation and expertise shown by agents, was held at De Vere Wokefield Estate in Berkshire.
World Travel Holdings won the Online Travel Agent of the Year and Travel Agent Business of the Year awards, while Midcounties was named High Street Agency of the Year.
The Travel Network Group won the Cruise Innovation Award while Cruise Direction received the Clia Rising Star Award.
Carol Kirkham, of Kirkham Travel in Preston, was named Cruise Manager of the Year, while cruise.co.uk’s Sam Griffiths was Cruise Advocate of the Year. While Michele Russell and Phil Nuttall received the Outstanding Contribution to the Cruise Industry award.
There was also a posthumous award to travel lawyer Maria Pittordis, who died earlier this year, which was collected by her colleague Jo Kolatsis from Hill Dickinson.
While Clia chairman Stuart Leven announced that the Outstanding Contribution Award presented at the Cruise Media Awards in March 2018 will be renamed as the Captain Greybeard Award for Outstanding Contribution in honour of cruise journalist John Honeywell, who died in October.
Andy Harmer, senior vice president, membership, and director, Clia UK & Ireland, said: “Figures from this year show that 1.9 million passengers chose to cruise in 2016 and this is not without the support of agents who strive to promote cruise holidays.
“It is important to recognise these individuals and businesses and the measures they are taking to contribute to the success of the industry.”
The full list of winners of the Cruise Excellence Awards:
- Online Travel Agent of the Year: World Travel Holdings
- High Street Travel Agency of the Year: Midcounties
- Cruise Innovation Award: The Travel Network Group
- Clia Rising Star Award: Cruise Direction
- Travel Agent Business of the Year: World Travel Holdings
- Cruise Manager of the Year: Carol Kirkham
- Cruise Advocate of the Year: Sam Griffiths – cruise.co.uk
- Travel Agent Advisory Council Chairs Award: Adele Foster
- Outstanding Contribution to the Cruise Industry: Michele Russell & Phil Nuttall
- Special Outstanding Contribution Award: Presented posthumously to Maria Pittordis, Hill Dickinson
