Winner of the Woman of the Year award announced
Victoria Sanders, managing director of Teletext Holidays, won the Woman of the Year award at last night’s Women 1st Shine Awards 2011.
Sanders (pictured, middle) was also named in the inaugural list of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry at the event, held at the Savoy Hotel, which was hosted by broadcaster Gaby Roslin.
Sharon Glancy, founder of Women 1st, said: "Victoria Sanders is an inspiration to us all. She relaunched the Teletext Holidays business by embracing 21st century technology and turned it round from making a £5.5 million loss to a £2.7 million profit in just two years. All this was done during one of the most challenging economic periods.
"Her contribution to the industry has been invaluable and we at Women 1st are proud to honour her achievements. We hope our accolade will inspire countless others, both men and women, to reach their career aspirations in our vibrant industry."
Also included in the list of Most Influential Women are Virgin Holidays managing director Amanda Wills, who has helped Virgin Holidays to become the number one tour operator to Florida and the Caribbean, Lorraine Barnes-Burton, who launched the Gold Leisure Club for the Evening Standard and is now chief executive of the British Travel Awards, and Flo Powell, who supports over 20,000 individual travel agents in her role as director of ACE (the Association of Cruise Experts) and was previously executive director of the Tourism Society.
The 2011 Women 1st Shine Award winners are as follows:
* Woman of the Year Award: Victoria Sanders, managing director, Teletext Holidays
* Outstanding Entrepreneur Award: Jillian MacLean, managing director, Drake & Morgan
* Rising Star Award: Xoe Donovan, general manager, The Longford House Beefeater and Cannock South Premier Inn
* Mentor of the Year Award: Lou Willcock, founder and director, IndiCater
* Lifetime Achievement Award: Robyn Jones OBE, chief executive, CH&Co
* Small Business Award: ABode Hotels
* Large Business Award: Sodexo UK & Ireland
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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