It’s time to celebrate! The shortlist for the first Aspire Awards has been unveiled, highlighting the best in luxury travel. 

This September, Aspire will host its first standalone Aspire Awards, having previously been part of the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards. 

The new event will be held on September 9 at Hansom Hall at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, with 300 guests set to attend. 

The event is being held in partnership with headline sponsor Celebrity Cruises. Other sponsors include ANA, Hearst, Indulgent Escapes by Jet2holidays, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn.

Aspire editor Hollie-Rae Brader said: “I’m delighted to announce the shortlist for the first Aspire Awards. We had a rigorous entry and judging process, which saw suppliers and agents submit themselves in the categories, as well as agents voting for their preferred suppliers. 

“I look forward to unveiling the winners later this year.”

Jo Rzymowska, UK boss of Celebrity Cruises, said: “As clients seek new, exciting and more-personalised holidays, they are gravitating towards brands that can provide out-of-the-ordinary experiences. That drive for innovation is where luxury brands really excel.

“At Celebrity Cruises, we continue to raise the game for luxury holidays. Our newest ships, Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex, are packed with transformative features. 

“Agents and operators are increasingly realising the opportunities available in the luxury sector and we can’t wait to celebrate the successes of all those shortlisted in the awards.”

Only a small number of tickets are left for the awards. To purchase yours, visit aspireawards.co.uk.

Aspire Awards Agent Shortlist

INDEPENDENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR

◗Eagle Travel

◗More Travel

◗Mundy Cruising

◗Off Broadway Travel

◗Swords Travel

TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

◗Clare Levy, Different Planet Travel

◗Dan Salmon, Never A Wasted Journey

◗Elaine Ferry, Elaine’s Travel

◗Nadine Lear, Lear Travel

CONCIERGE AGENCY OF THE YEAR

◗Blue Marble Travel

◗Quintessentially

◗Travel Club Elite

◗Ten Lifestyle Group

◗Winged Boots

BEST USE OF CONTENT

◗Off Broadway Travel

◗Paperplane Travel

◗Thames Travel

◗Winged Boots

EXTRA MILE AWARD

◗Stuart Swords, Swords Travel

◗Sharon Goldstone & Charlotte McGennity, Eagle Travel

◗ Sarah Vince & Tricia Lester, Baldwins Travel

There are no shortlists for the following categories. The winners for each will be announced on the night:

◗Outstanding Contribution to Luxury

◗One to Watch Award

◗Aspire Supporter of the Year

Aspire Awards Supplier Shortlist

LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

◗Abercrombie & Kent

◗Caribtours

◗Carrier

◗Elegant Resorts

◗Exsus Travel

◗Knighton Reeve

◗Lusso

 PREMIUM TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

◗If Only

◗Indulgent Escapes by Jet2holidays

◗Kuoni

◗Pure Luxury

◗Simply Luxury

 SALES REPRESENTATION COMPANY OF THE YEAR

◗Fred & Mildred

◗Highlife Marketing

◗GP Associates

◗Perowne International

◗SLC Representation

BEST AIR SERVICE

◗Air New Zealand

◗Emirates

◗ Qantas

◗Singapore Airlines

◗TCS World Travel

LUXURY OCEAN CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR

◗Azamara

◗Celebrity Cruises

◗Crystal Cruises

◗Oceania Cruises

◗Regent Seven Seas Cruises

◗Seabourn

◗Silversea Cruises

 LUXURY RIVER CRUISE LINE OF THE YEAR

◗AmaWaterways

◗Avalon Waterways

◗Crystal River Cruises

◗Uniworld

LUXURY ADVENTURE BRAND OF THE YEAR

◗Abercrombie & Kent

◗Cookson Adventures

◗National Geographic Expeditions

◗Silversea Expeditions

◗Singita

BEST LUXURY TOURIST BOARD

◗Destination Canada

◗South African Tourism

◗Tourism Australia

◗Tourism New Zealand

 BEST LUXURY LARGE HOTEL BRAND

◗Aman 

◗Belmond

◗Como Hotels and Resorts

◗Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

◗One&Only Resorts
◗Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

 BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL

◗Calabash Hotel, Grenada

◗Cambridge Arms, Cambridge

◗Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island

BEST NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH 
◗Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge

◗Silversea Cruises’ expedition world cruise

◗Simpson Travel’s trade team launch

◗Exsus Travel’s trade team launch

 BEST LUXURY TEAM

◗Caribtours

◗Carrier

◗Seabourn

◗Silversea Cruises

Dig Deep to raise funds for The Rainbow Trust
Aspire will call on the generosity of the luxury travel sector as it looks to raise money for a children’s charity. 
Aspire has selected The Rainbow Trust as the charity for the inaugural Aspire Awards.
The charity supports families which have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness and which need bespoke support.
Through its family support network, the charity works with those in greatest need at home, in hospital and in the community.
Today, there are an estimated 49,000 children and young people in the UK living with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition who may require palliative care, and the Rainbow Trust focuses on those families that struggle to cope on a day-to-day basis.
The fundraising forms part of Travel Weekly Group’s pledge to raise £50,000 for five charities to mark the 50th anniversary of the brand. The selected charities are The Rainbow Trust, The Children’s Trust, Reuben’s Retreat, Stars and Whizz-Kidz.