Aspire Awards shortlist unveiled

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.