Nigel Thompson
Northumberland is the nation’s new staycation superstar. The scenic, history-rich destination triumphed with a Gold in the coveted Best UK Holiday County or Region category at this week’s 2018 public-voted British Travel Awards.
It meant Cornwall lost the title it has held since 2009 as it surprisingly slumped to Silver, with the Peak District & Derbyshire bagging Bronze.
But the home of Poldark did not leave the ceremony at London’s Battersea Evolution empty-handed – The
Lost Gardens of Heligan grabbed Gold for Best UK Leisure/Heritage Attraction and the Eden Project got Bronze, with Edinburgh Castle sandwiched between them.
And the Best UK Seaside Town Gold went to Bude, with last year’s winner Bournemouth scooping Silver and St Ives booked in for Bronze.
Public voting for the prestigious annual awards – the largest UK consumer-voted programme across any industry – was open from July to September.
The BTAs are regarded as the UK travel industry’s most prized accolades – the holiday Oscars.
Why? Because they’re voted for by you – the people who spend their hardearned money on the holidays and services they sell. This year 334,522 people cast a whopping 753,938 votes for their favourite travel companies to determine the winners.
Voting categories included overseas tour operators, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, staycation attractions and accommodation specialists, plus those essential extras such as travel insurance, currency exchange, price comparison websites and airport parking.
The Daily Mirror is the lead media partner of the awards and the tie-up with our parent company Reach plc also included our sister national newspapers the Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, Daily Record and Sunday Mail, plus leading group regional titles such as the Bristol Post, Manchester Evening News, Nottingham Post, Birmingham Mail, Liverpool Echo, Leicester Mercury, South Wales Echo and Newcastle Chronicle.
Travel editors and editorial and advertising executives from the newspapers presented awards, along with industry leaders.
Away from staycations, Titan Travel triumphed once again at the Around the World in 80 Daysthemed gala event, hosted by TV presenter Miles Jupp and attended by the travel GLITZ Gala event had an Around the World in 80 days theme
industry’s movers and shakers. The firm won seven Golds, with Emirates Holidays and Newmarket Holidays hot on their heels on six, and James Villa Holidays taking five.
Among the big guns, Virgin Holidays won four Golds and TUI, Mercury Holidays and Kuoni three each.
Last year there was a big surprise when Sandals lost its crown for Best All-Inclusive Hotel & Resort Brand for the first time, but for 2018 they were Mirror Travel Editors Nigel Thompson and Marjorie Yue on stage with Miles Jupp
Pictures: STEVE DUNLOP back with the Gold. And a number of firms celebrated Gold award longevity – both P&O Ferries for Best Ferry/Mini Cruise Operator and Viking for Best River Cruise totted up 10 years running; APH (Airport Parking & Hotels) nine years for Best Airport Parking Provider and Travelzoo seven years for Best Online Travel Deals Provider.
The ever-growing cruise sector saw Silversea pick up Best UltraLuxury Cruise Line and Best Ultra Small/Boutique Cruise Line, while P&O Cruises took Best Family Cruise Line.
In the skies, easyJet won Best Short Haul, Emirates took off with Best Long Haul, and Virgin Atlantic landed Best Scheduled Economy Class and Best Scheduled Business Class.
From planes to autos, and Avis again hit the road with Best Car Hire Provider.
■ For a full list of 2018 British Travel Awards winners, including those receiving certificates for silver and bronze positions, go to britishtravelawards.com