Last chance to enter the Aspire Awards

Agents and suppliers are encouraged to submit their entries for this year’s Aspire Awards as the deadline approaches.

The entry process has been open since March, and hundreds of applications have already been submitted. The closing date is June 30. Judging will take place in mid-July and the winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on October 18.

Aspire editor Hollie-Rae Brader said: “Our industry is lucky to have such incredibly hardworking, dedicated and exceptional people. The luxury travel sector has quality in abundance. I’m always thrilled to read the submissions as it highlights just how incredibly passionate everyone working in this sector is. I can’t wait to see this year’s entries and I look forward to celebrating the successes of the luxury travel industry at our annual ceremony.”

This year’s event is being held outside of London for the first time, reflecting the wealth of high-end travel brands based in the north of the country.

Brader added: “The response to us moving the event to Manchester has been incredible. The level of support from both agents and brands is beyond what we expected and we can’t wait to welcome a record number of guests at this year’s Aspire Awards.”

To enter or to book tickets visit: aspireawards.co.uk

For remaining sponsorship opportunities email: hollie@travelweekly.co.uk

Donate to support Reuben's Retreat

Aspire will call on the generosity of the luxury travel sector as it looks to raise money for its chosen charity, Reuben’s Retreat.

The Aspire team has selected the charity as its partner for this year’s Aspire Awards, being held at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on October 18.

Reuben Graham died aged 23 months in 2012 after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. His mum Nicola, who was working at Red Sea Holidays at the time, set up the charity in his name.

Reuben’s Retreat supports families who have lost a child or whose child is suffering from a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. The venue offers counselling, support groups, wellbeing activities, holistic therapies and respite breaks.

During the Aspire Awards, guests will be encouraged to donate money to support Reuben’s Retreat. Companies are also being urged to gift items or holidays to the charity, which are either passed on to families using Reuben’s Retreat or raffled off to secure additional fundraising.

Nicola said the charity was currently working with 677 individuals, spanning both children and parents. She revealed the charity has reached phase six of its ambitious 10-phase multimillion-pound renovation project, and needs £4 million to continue work on the retreat in Glossop, Derbyshire.

“We’re so grateful to have been chosen as the charity partner for the Aspire Awards,” Nicola said. “These opportunities are so important because not only will we raise money on the night but we’ll also make new relationships with people who might not know about the work we do.

“The travel industry is all we’ve known as a family. Our careers were always in travel and although I left the industry in 2013 to do my job at the charity full-time, it never left me. We’ve been so supported by this wonderful industry.”

Aspire editor Hollie-Rae Brader added: “I’m delighted we’ll be supporting the incredible work of Nic and the team at Reuben’s Retreat at this year’s Aspire Awards. Our audience is incredibly generous, so I’m hoping we can raise lots of money on the night for a brilliant cause.”

To find out more about the work of Reuben’s Retreat, visit: reubensretreat.org