Landmark for Stena
THE NUMBER of Irish Sea passengers using Stena Line services increased to 2.5 million last year.
Now the Swedish operator has been nominated for two gongs in the prestigious 2016 British Travel Awards (BTA).
The company is up for the Best Ferry/ Mini Cruise and Best Ferry Company for Customer Service accolades.
The winners will be determined by customers who have until September 30 to cast their vote.
The results will be announced at the BTA Gala Awards Dinner in London on November 23.
Stena Line is the biggest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, with the largest fleet and the widest choice of routes from Britain to Ireland, including Holyhead to Dublin, Belfast to Liverpool and Fishguard to Rosslare routes.
During 2015, the company experienced a significant increase in passenger numbers, carrying more than 2.5 million on its Irish Sea routes.
Orla Noonan, Stena Line’s Head of Travel, said: “We’re delighted to be nominated for not one but two awards.
“Over the last number of years we have been developing our Irish Sea routes significantly and it’s rewarding for both our customers and staff to see that commitment being recognised by such an influ- ential trade organisation as the BTA.
“Fingers crossed for an historic ‘double’ for Stena Line in November.”
Lorraine Barnes Burton, British Travel Awards’ chief executive, said competition to win a British Travel Award will be fierce.
She said: “This year there are nearly 700 nominations listed against 83 Award categories.
“In 2015 more than a million votes were cast by the consumer to decide the winners, making the BTAs easily the largest awards programme in the UK.
The rise in passenger numbers and the new nominations come as the company assesses the potential impact of the Brexit vote to leave the EU in June.
That month, Stena Line said Brexit was a “completely new situation” and it is working with the UK Chamber of Shipping to consider the implications.