ourism Minister to address British Youth Travel Awards

The new Minister for Tourism, Barbara Follett MP will join industry representatives in honouring the crème-de-la-crème in student, youth and educational travel this month.

The British Youth Travel Awards (BYTAs) are organised by British Educational Travel Association (www.betauk.com) and recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding companies and individuals operating within the youth travel market.

This year, the winners in seven categories will be announced at a special awards ceremony at Rex Cinema & Bar in London’s West End on 24 November.

Barbara Follett MP will be the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony, in one of her first public speaking engagements to the youth travel sector since her appointment as Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism; a role which sees her promoting tourism in the UK.

The short-listing panel for this year’s awards consisted of respected figures from the youth and education travel sectors, with the eventual winners voted for by BETA’s members.

“This year’s entrants were of an exceptionally high standard,” said short listing judge Nick Tellwright, independent consultant for the international education sector and former Group Marketing Director at Study Group. “It was particularly exciting to see companies demonstrating that focus, flair and imagination can be more important than big budgets when it comes to producing successful marketing campaigns.”

“The BYTAs provide us with a platform from which to celebrate and reward our high achievers, gain recognition, and raise the profile of the work and individual successes of organisations engaged in youth, student and educational travel, to, from and within the UK,” said Emma English, Executive Director of BETA, whose members span the sector, from large corporate companies to small businesses.

“The youth travel business is the future of the UK tourism industry, with young people travelling to and from this country giving great value to the world,” she added.

The finalists in each of the categories are as follows:

Best website: Hatters Hostel; Gapyear.com; STA Travel

Best Youth Product: Anglophiles Academic – David Beckham Football Academy; Educational Cultural Exchange – Medieval Encampment Experience; Hostelbookers.com

Most Innovative Marketing: Gapyear.com – Challenge Canada Campaign; St Christopher’s Inns – VIP campaign; Tourism Australia – UK Youth WHV campaign

Most Promising Young Marketer: Emma Coelho, Anglo American Educational Services; Gavin Daniel, Anglophiles Academic; Tanya Nicholls, International Students House

Green Tourism Award: Abang Africa Travel; Contiki Holidays & Resorts; Gap Adventures

Best UK Youth Destination (Chosen by the guest judges, to be announced at awards event)

Best International Youth Destination (Chosen by the guest judge, to be announced at awards event)

Rodney Herrex, General Manager for Tourism Australia UK/Europe, said: “Tourism Australia is honoured to be a finalist in the Most Innovative Marketing category of this year’s British Youth Travel Awards. It is wonderful to be recognised by BETA for our innovative work in promoting the Australian Working Holiday Visa to the British youth market.”