The UK’s largest and most prestigious travel agent awards have expanded for 2020, with new awards introduced to recognise the best companies and individuals in the travel trade.
Founded in 1997, the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards feature a range of supplier-voted categories recognising the best small and large agencies by region, sales channel and product specialisms, in addition to self-nominated categories that celebrate individual agents and business excellence.
New award categories this year will honour agents’ commitment to sustainability and agency support staff, in addition to recognising the agency that does the most to support, develop and retain its staff.
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly, said: “Winning an Agent Achievement Award is the pinnacle of success in the travel trade. After unveiling a fantastic new look and format for the AAAs to mark Travel Weekly’s 50th anniversary in 2019, we are delighted to introduce three new categories this year as we honour the very best agents and agencies across the UK and Ireland.”
She added: “Sustainability and staff wellbeing and development are two areas Travel Weekly has taken a lead on in recent years, and we are also proud to reward the ‘behind-the-scenes’ heroes without whom so many agencies would not be able to deliver such outstanding service to their customers.”
The 2020 Agent Achievement Awards take place on Thursday, July 16, with another capacity audience of 850 expected for the gala ceremony at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel.
The event will feature a star-studded line-up and dazzling entertainment alongside the presentation of the all-important awards.
Huxley said: “Once again we are indebted to our sponsors for their support and to the many suppliers who take the time to vote and join our judging panels to ensure the AAAs continue to recognise the very best of our fantastic industry.”
New award categories for 2020
Sustainability Champions of the Year (Small and Large)
Recognising an agency that has truly embraced sustainability within its business and in the product and suppliers it promotes and sells to customers. Successful entrants will be able to demonstrate how sustainability and responsible travel are at the centre of their future business plans. The award is open to travel agencies operating in any sales channel, including high street, call centre, online and from home.
Agency Support Team Member of the Year
Open to agency staff in non-frontline or support roles for agencies in any sales channel, including high street, call centre, online and from home. Successful entrants or nominees will be able to demonstrate the role they play in ensuring high-quality agency operations in addition to evidence of outstanding service levels and contribution to overall business success.
Best Agency to Work For 2020 (Small and Large)
Designed to recognise the best employer in the travel agency sector, and open to agencies operating in any sales channel, including high street, call centre, online and from home. Successful entrants will be able to demonstrate their business’s commitment to staff wellbeing and development and the impact of their strategy on staff progression and retention, business performance and the wider workforce and community.
For all new awards listed above, a shortlist will be drawn up and assessed
by a judging panel.
Get more information and enter on the Agent Achievement Awards’ website