BTA winners announced

The most voted for British Travel Awards yet was held last night with representatives from across the industry celebrating in New York-themed style.

The prestigious awards, backed by sponsors including Avis, feefo, Shearings, Newmarket Holidays and TravelMole, was hosted by comedian Hal Cruttenden.

The CAA’s head of consumer protection Richard Jackson was given a ‘Special Recognition Award’ as he steps down from the post.

BTA chairman Roger Allard said: "Richard Jackson has shown an intelligence and passion for travel and the people and companies within it during his career .The travel industry certainly would not have survived the recession relatively intact without his support and for that we thank him most sincerely."

The ‘Special Recognition Award’ will now be an annual fixture at the BTAs.

More than one million people voted for this year’s winner and it was a closely fought contest in many categories.

Here are the winners:

BEST FAMILY HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – THOMSON, Medium – CANVAS HOLIDAYS and Small – CANTERBURY TRAVEL

BEST LUXURY HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – KUONI, Medium – DESTINOLOGY, Small – IMAGINE TRAVEL

BEST ALL INCLUSIVE HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – MARK WARNER HOLIDAYS, Small – LUXURY DESTINATIONS

BEST SINGLES HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – JUST YOU, Small – ONE TRAVELLER

BEST WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – VIRGIN HOLIDAYS, Medium – TROPICAL SKY, Small – IONIAN WEDDINGS

BEST SPECIAL INTEREST HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL

BEST ACTIVITY/SPORTS HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – NEILSON ACTIVE HOLIDAYS, Medium – MARK WARNER HOLIDAYS, Small – ACTIVITIES ABROAD

BEST SKI & WINTERSPORTS HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – CRYSTAL SKI HOLIDAYS, Medium – MARK WARNER HOLIDAYS, Small – SKI AMIS

BEST ESCORTED TOURS HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – APT GUIDED TOURS & RIVER CRUISES

BEST ESCORTED ADVENTURE HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – EXODUS TRAVELS, Small – GRAND AMERICAN ADVENTURES

BEST COACH HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – BACK-ROADS TOURING

BEST TRAIN HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS, Medium – RAILBOOKERS, Small – PLANET RAIL

BEST CAMPING & MOBILE HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – PARKDEAN HOLIDAYS, Medium – CANVAS HOLIDAYS, Small – BRITTANY FERRIES HOLIDAYS

BEST SAFARI, WILDLIFE & NATURE HOLIDAY COMPANY

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – IMAGINE AFRICA

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO WESTERN EUROPE

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – CANVAS HOLIDAYS, Small – BRITTANY FERRIES HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO CENTRAL & NORTHERN EUROPE

Medium – TRAVELSPHERE, Small – REGENT HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO EAST & SOUTHEAST EUROPE

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – CYPRUS PARADISE

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE IBERIAN PENINSULA & ISLANDS

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – SIMPSON TRAVEL

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE ITALIAN PENINSULA & MALTA

Large – NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS, Medium – CITALIA, Small – LONG TRAVEL

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO HELLENIC EUROPE

Large – OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS, Medium – IONIAN & AEGEAN ISLAND HOLIDAYS, Small – SIMPSON TRAVEL

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE USA

Large – VIRGIN HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – TREKAMERICA

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO CANADA

Large – CANADIAN AFFAIR, Medium – TITAN, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE CARIBBEAN & BERMUDA

Large – VIRGIN HOLIDAYS, Medium – THE HOLIDAY PLACE, Small – LETSGO2.COM

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – IMAGINE LATIN AMERICA

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO NORTH AFRICA

Large – THOMSON, Medium – RED SEA HOLIDAYS, Small – DISCOVER EGYPT

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE MIDDLE EAST

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – EMIRATES HOLIDAYS, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO AUSTRALASIA

Large SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – AUSTRAVEL, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO SOUTHERN ASIA

Large – NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – SKANDA HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

Large – SAGA HOLIDAYS, Medium – TITAN, Small – IMAGINE ASIA

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO EAST & CENTRAL ASIA

Medium – TITAN, Small – WENDY WU TOURS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY TO THE INDIAN OCEAN

Large – KUONI UK, Medium – EMIRATES HOLIDAYS, Small – EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP

BEST NATIONAL TRAVEL RETAILER

Winner – THOMSON

BEST REGIONAL TRAVEL AGENCY

Winner – TRAILFINDERS

BEST LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY

Winner – SPEAR TRAVELS

BEST INDEPENDENT TRAVEL AGENCY

Winner – THE HOLIDAY PLACE

BEST ONLINE/CALL CENTRE TRAVEL AGENCY

Winner – TRAVEL REPUBLIC

BEST CRUISE HOLIDAY RETAILER

Winner – CRUISE NATION

BEST FLIGHT BOOKING WEBSITE

Winner – OPODO

BEST HOTEL BOOKING WEBSITE

Winner – TRAVEL REPUBLIC

BEST FERRY BOOKING WEBSITE

Winner – P&O FERRIES

BEST VILLA/SELF CATERING HOLIDAY BOOKING COMPANY

Large – JAMES VILLAS, Medium – VILLA PLUS, Small – IONIAN & AEGEAN ISLAND HOLIDAYS

BEST LARGE SHIP CRUISE LINE

Winner – P&O CRUISES

BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE

Winner – CUNARD

BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE

Winner – P&O CRUISES

BEST SPECIALIST CRUISE LINE (OCEAN)

Winner – SAGA HOLIDAYS

BEST SMALL SHIPS CRUISE LINE

Winner – SAGA HOLIDAYS

BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE

Winner – VIKING RIVER CRUISES

BEST NEW CRUISE SHIP (OCEAN)

Winner- P&O CRUISES

BEST INTERNATIONAL LUXURY HOTEL BRAND

Winner – FOUR SEASONS HOTELS & RESORTS

BEST INTERNATIONAL UPSCALE HOTEL BRAND

Winner – RADISSON BLU

BEST INTERNATIONAL MIDSCALE HOTEL BRAND

Winner – JURYS INN HOTEL GROUP

BEST INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY HOTEL BRAND

Winner – PREMIER INN

BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE HOTEL & RESORT BRAND

Winner – SANDALS RESORTS

BEST ENGLISH CHANNEL OPERATOR

Winner -P&O FERRIES

BEST FERRY/MINI CRUISE OPERATOR

Winner – P&O FERRIES

BEST CAR HIRE PROVIDER

Winner – SIXT Rent-A-Car

BEST TRAVEL DEALS PROVIDER

Winner – TRAVELZOO

BEST TRAVEL REVIEW/RATINGS WEBSITE

Winner – TRIPADVISOR

BEST CONSUMER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

Winner – NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER

BEST AIRPORT PARKING COMPANY

Winner – APH (Airport Parking & Hotels)

BEST HOLIDAY TRANSFER COMPANY

Winner – TITAN

BEST FOREIGN EXCHANGE/TRAVEL MONEY RETAILER

Winner – FAIRFX

BEST TRAVEL INSURANCE PROVIDER

Winner – POST OFFICE MONEY

BEST HOLIDAY ATTRACTION TICKET PROVIDER

Winner – ATTRACTION TICKETS DIRECT

BEST UK FAMILY HOLIDAY/PARKS OPERATOR

Winner – PARKDEAN HOLIDAYS

BEST UK LUXURY HOTEL BRAND

Winner – SOFITEL

BEST UK UPSCALE HOTEL BRAND

Winner – MARRIOTT

BEST UK MIDSCALE HOTEL BRAND

Winner – BEST WESTERN GB

BEST UK ECONOMY HOTEL BRAND

Winner – PREMIER INN

BEST UK SELF CATERING HOLIDAY BOOKING COMPANY

Large – SYKES COTTAGES, Medium – TOAD HALL COTTAGES, Small – COAST & COUNTRY COTTAGES

BEST UK LEISURE ATTRACTION

Winner – EDEN PROJECT

BEST UK HERITAGE ATTRACTION

Winner – GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

BEST UK HOLIDAY COUNTY OR DESTINATION

Winner – CORNWALL (visitcornwall.com)

BEST UK COASTAL RESORT

Winner – BUDE (visitbude.info)

BEST FERRY OPERATOR FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Winner – P&O FERRIES

BEST HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Winner – HOLIDAYCOTTAGES.CO.UK

BEST CRUISE LINE FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Winner – SAGA HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Large – PARKDEAN HOLIDAYS

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Medium – TITAN

BEST HOLIDAY COMPANY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Small – MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL

BEST TRAVEL RETAILER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Winner – TRAVEL REPUBLIC

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

RICHARD JACKSON

FEEFO AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

Medium – HELPFUL HOLIDAYS, Small – TRAFALGAR, Homeworker – FREDDIE SKELTON, Kwik Travel Group