The best agents and brands in the luxury travel sector have been honoured.
Celebrity Cruises was the headline sponsor of the Aspire Awards.
Carrier won two awards, including Luxury Tour Operator of the Year and Luxury Team of the Year.
Tarporley Travel won Independent Agency of the Year for homework, while Swords Travel won Independent Agency of the Year for high street.
Dan Salmon, owner of Never A Wasted Journey, won the Travel Advisor of the Year award, while Ben Poole, who set up his agency The Travel Journal in January 2020, won the Rising Star of the Year.
Travel Matters was applauded for innovation of the year, thanks to its partner promotion and B2B business tool.
John Sullivan is the head of commercial at Advantage Travel Partnership.
Neil Jacobs, the chief executive of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, and Haslemere Travel's Gemma Antrobus received top honours at the Aspire Awards.
Antrobus was described as a key force in fighting for the industry during the Pandemic by the editor of Aspire. The government seemingly forgot about the sector, as Gemma was banging the drum for it.
Antrobus is the owner and managing director of Haslemere Travel. She studied international hospitality management at university and grew up in a family that was involved in the travel industry. Haslemere Travel was purchased by her in 2015.
She said that she wanted to thank you on behalf of the entire industry. We have done this together and we are here together. Many of you have been at the end of a message, email or phone call, and I am not the only one.
My husband, Ray, has supported my business as well, and I would like to thank you for that. I would like to thank Travel Weekly for being there for us as agents, keeping us going and believing that we will have an industry to fight for.
We are an amazing industry, we deserve the success that we are going to get as we come out the other side of this, and all I can say is thank you, it has been my honor to represent you in this wonderful industry.
Jacobs was rewarded for his passion for wellbeing, sustainable travel and making travel meaningful, with Brader commending his work in ensuring Six Senses has a positive impact on guests, staff and local communities.
Jacobs joined Six Senses in 2012 after a long career in the hotel industry, having held leadership roles at Four Seasons, where he oversaw all of Asia Pacific and launched a host of new properties, and at Starwood, where he led its luxury hotels and the development of the Baccarat Hotels and 1
He said that he was grateful for the award that they had on them. We are extremely grateful and honoured to have won this award.
The editor of the magazine said she was thrilled that they were here to honor all of the people. Everyone in this room has been involved in keeping our industry alive. You have all worked hard, up against endless challenges and restrictions. We celebrate you and your businesses tonight.
The full list of winners of the Aspire Awards will be published in 2021.
Haslemere Travel has an outstanding contribution to luxury.
Neil Jacobs is an Outstanding Contribution to Luxury.
Swords Travel is the Independent Agency of the Year.
Tarporley Travel is the Independent Agency of the Year.
Ten Lifestyle Group was named Concierge Agency of the Year.
Dan Salmon was the travel advisor of the year.
Travel Matters is the innovation of the year.
The Travel Journal has a rising star of the year.
John Sullivan is the Aspire Supporter of the Year.
Celebrity Cruises is the Luxury Ocean Cruise Line of the Year.
AmaWaterways is the Luxury River Cruise Line of the Year.
White Desert is the Luxury Adventure Brand of the Year.
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas is the sustainable practice of the year.
The Tourism New Zealand Luxury Tourist Board of the Year.
Sani & Ikos Group was named the Luxury Hotel Brand of the Year.
VistaJet was named the Luxury Air Service of the Year.
Carrier was named the Luxury Tour Operator of the Year.
Kuoni is the Premium Tour Operator of the Year.
The Unsung Hero of the Year is Knighton Reeve.
Perowne International was named Sales Representation Company of the Year.
The supplier of the year is Trees4Travel, a carbon calculator project.
The Carrier was named the Luxury Team of the Year.
