Lindsay Garvey-Jones, national partnerships manager for Holiday Extras, received the Honorary Award, presented to someone who has contributed significantly to the industry and the association over the past 12 months.

Clia events manager Adele Foster picked up the Business Impact Award, while Camila Del Popolo, business development manager at Travelport, won the Rising Star Award.

Travel Network Group membership services manager Cat Morrissey was highly commended in the same category.

The company award went to HF Holidays.

The Ambassador Award, presented to a male colleague who supports women in business went to Thomas Cook sales, e-commerce and marketing director Phil Gardner on the day the travel giant went into liquidation. TTG Media CEO Daniel Pearce was also a finalist in the category.

Opening the event, AWTE chair Claire Osborne said the association had thought long and hard before going ahead with the awards.

“We wanted to bring a little bit of light to what has been a dark day for the travel industry today,” she said.