Westoe Travel owner receives special award for support to murdered agent’s family
Graeme Brett, the owner of Westoe Travel where murdered travel agent Chloe Rutherford worked, has received an award for the support he gave to her family.
Advantage Travel chief executive Julia Lo-Bue Said revealed today that she had visited the families of Chloe and her boyfriend, Liam Curry, who were both victims of the Manchester bombing last year.
Lo-Bue Said made the trip with Brett after thousands of pounds was raised by Advantage members and business partners at last year’s Big Celebration Lunch for the Together Forever Foundation set up in their names.
At this year’s Big Celebration Lunch, Lo-Bue Said presented Brett with a Judges Special Recognition Award.
A further 21 awards were presented by TV presenter Mark Duden-Smith to Advantage members and business partners at today’s lunch, which is the third of its kind.
"We are very proud of our members and business partners and are excited to once again celebrate what we have collectively achieved in the past year. We’re delighted that our event is now an annual calendar event in the industry," said Lo-Bue said.
In Advantage Travel Partnership’s 40th anniversary year the consortia will support Make-A-Wish UK, the children’s charity that aims to fulfill life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. It is aiming to raise £25,000 throughout the year.
The full list of 2018 winners:
Leisure Sales Team of the Year 2018
Jet2holidays
Advantage Holidays Agent of the Year 2018
Polka Dot Travel
Hotel Partner of the Year 2018
Melia Hotels International
Most Engaged Leisure Travel Agent of the Year 2018
Garstang Travel
Most Engaged Business Travel Agent of the Year 2018
Blue Cube Travel
Advantage Business Travel Agent of the Year (Less than £30M sales annually) 2018
Global Travel Management
Advantage Business Travel Agent of the Year (More than £30M sales annually) 2018
Business Travel Direct
Business Travel Partner of the Year (Air) 2018
Emirates
Business Travel Partner of the Year (Technology & Ancillary) 2018
Travelogix
Business Travel Account Manager of the Year 2018
Michael Rainford, Air France KLM
Advantage Leisure Travel Agent of the Year (North) 2018
Althams Travel
Advantage Leisure Travel Agent of the Year (South) 2018
Baldwins Travel Group
Leisure Partner of the Year 2018
Gold Medal and Travel 2
Agent Friendly Leisure Partner of the Year 2018
Classic Collection
Leisure Account Manager of the Year 2018
Jonny Peat, Celebrity Cruises
Employee of the Year- Business Travel 2018
Heeral Patel, Omega Business Travel
Employee of the Year- Leisure Travel 2018
Nicki Lahiri, Meon Valley Travel
Marketing Excellence Award 2018
Oasis Travel
Rising Star Award 2018
Amy Floyd, Sevenoaks Travel
Outstanding Achievement Award Winner 2018
Suzanne Horner, Gray Dawes Group
Advantage Employee of the Year
Lee Ainsworth
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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