Gallery: Silver Travel Awards 2017
Riviera Travel and Shearings Holidays both scooped two gongs each at this year’s Silver Travel Awards.
The awards, which recognise the travel companies which best cater for the over-50s market, were handed out at a special ceremony held at Madame Tussauds tonight (Thursday).
A record 55,000 consumers voted for their favourite travel brands in 17 categories this year’s awards, of which Travel Weekly is trade media partner.
Riviera Travel was named best city breaks operator and best escorted touring operator, Europe and long-haul tours. Shearings Holidays won best UK breaks operator and best escorted touring operator, UK Tours.
In addition, two special awards were judged by a panel of senior travel industry figures.
Manging director of Viking Cruises UK, Wendy Atkin-Smith, won the exceptional achievement award for her lifetime contribution to the over-50s travel market.
The Classic FM 25-year anniversary travel company award went to Kirker Holidays with Inghams named runner-up.
Debbie Marshall, managing director of Silver Travel Advisor said: “Our winners have been voted for by a record numbers of the Great British public, and these awards are a real endorsement of how well each of these companies is addressing the burgeoning opportunities in the over-50s market to deliver inspiring, inventive and insightful holidays for an age group that has lost none of its travel ambition with its advancing years.”
“It has been wonderful to recognise a real luminary of the travel industry – Wendy Atkin-Smith of Viking Cruises. She is a worthy winner who has helped nurture a new sector of service-driven, 50s-friendly travel. And special congratulations are due to Inghams and Kirker Holidays who both wowed the judging panel for the Classic FM award.”
The winners for the 17 main consumer voted awards:
Best ocean cruise line
Winner: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Runner-up: Celebrity Cruises
Best river cruise line
Winner: Viking River Cruises
Runner-up: Riviera Travel
Best specialist cruise line
Winner: Noble Caledonia
Runner-up: Hurtigruten
Best large tour operator
Winner: Saga Holidays
Runner-up: Shearings Holidays
Best activity tour operator
Winner: HF Holidays
Runner-up: Explore
Best city breaks operator
Winner: Riviera Travel
Runner-up: Kirker Holidays
Best UK breaks operator
Winner: Shearings Holidays
Runner-up: Warner Leisure Hotels
Best escorted touring operator (UK tours)
Winner: Shearings Holidays
Runner-up: Grand UK Holidays
Best escorted touring operator (Europe and long-haul tours)
Winner: Riviera Travel
Runner-up: Jules Verne
Best cultural tour operator
Winner: Jules Verne
Runner-up: Wendy Wu Tours
Best self-catering accommodation
Winner: Forest Holidays
Runner-up: Airbnb
Best car rental company
Winner: Avis
Runner-up: Hertz
Best rail holiday provider
Winner: Great Rail Journeys
Runner-up: Railbookers
Best airline
Winner: British Airways
Runner-up: Emirates
Best overseas destination
Winner: New Zealand
Runner-up: Italy
Best accessible travel provider
Winner: Enable Holidays
Runner-up: Shearings Holidays
Best operator for the single traveller
Winner: Solos Holidays
Runner-up: Saga Holidays
Sponsors of this year’s awards were Saga Holidays, Wendy Wu Tours, Shearings Holidays and Solos Holidays, as well as category sponsors Holland America Line, Avis, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Classic FM, Four Communications, Your Service Centre Gatwick, Sun Park Living and My InterRail.