After an 18 month wait for hopefuls across the coach tourism sector, the winners of the 2020 British Coach Tourism Awards were announced at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on 22 September 2021.
With CTA members prominent among the winners, including former chair Denise Bridges, the 2020 awards recognised UK coach tour operators, destinations, visitor attractions, hotels, and tourism industry suppliers.
The awards ceremony, which took place in Birmingham following the first day of the British Tourism & Travel Show, brought back the industry once again to celebrate excellence and innovation across the coach tourism sector.
The 2020 British Coach Tourism Award winners are:
• Coach Friendly Destination, partnered by Floating Grace
Wells
Highly Commended – Otley
• Coach Friendly Attraction (history & heritage), partnered by Beverley East Yorkshire
Bletchley Park Trust
• Coach Friendly Attraction, partnered by Beverley East Yorkshire
RHS Gardens
Highly Commended – Aerospace Bristol
• Coach Friendly Guided Tour, partnered by CoachMarque
Holkham
Highly Commended – Culloden Battlefield
• Cross-Sea Carrier, partnered by Action Tours
P&O Ferries
• River and Inland Cruise Operator, partnered by DFDS
Stuart Line Cruises
• Accommodation Provider (independent hotel), partnered by Harmony Coach Holidays
Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton
• Accommodation Provider (hotel group), partnered by Albatross Travel
Best Western Hotels & Resorts GB
• Coach Tourism Industry Supplier, partnered by Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
Roeville Reservation Software
• Tour Wholesaler, partnered by Planet Hollywood & The View from the Shard
Albatross Travel
• Coach Tourism Professional of the Year, partnered by Continuum Attractions
Barry Cobb, Johnsons Coaches
• Coach Tour Driver of the Year, partnered by Roadchef
Andy Hinks, Lucketts Travel
• Highly Commended – Glyn Harrison, Alfa Travel (Sadly, since deceased)
• Holiday Programme, partnered by Distinctive Systems
Skills Holidays
• Day Excursion Programme, partnered by P&O Ferries
Woods Travel, Bognor Regis
• Coach Tour Operator Social Media Campaign, partnered by John Hill Coach Sales & Services
Johnsons Coaches
• Coach Tour Operator – Small Fleet (1 – 5 coaches), partnered by City Cruises
Masons Minibus & Coach Hire
• Coach Tour Operator – Medium Fleet (6 – 15 coaches), partnered by Warner Leisure Hotels
Kirbys Coaches
• Coach Tour Operator – Large Fleet (more than 15 coaches), partnered by Wrightsure Insurance Services
Johnsons Coaches
• British Coach Tourism Recognition Award, partnered by Hilton
Denise Bridges, Albatross Travel
Former CTA chair, Denise Bridges from Albatross Travel was awarded The British Coach Tourism Recognition Award for her significant contribution to the coach tourism industry.
Denise Bridges says: “I find myself lost for words, I am rather overwhelmed to receive this award when I am lucky enough to do a job I love, with amazing colleagues, clients and suppliers. This industry is full of warmth, creativity and hard work with an end game of delivering great holidays to those people who choose to travel by coach.
“I have spent my rather long career working in travel trade either in hotels, attractions or now, as a wholesaler, and this is absolutely the worst of times in over 40 working years. However, I know our industry will recover, with honesty and understanding between all of us, the best of times will return, it just may take a minute.”
For further information, including a full list of finalists and the judging panel, please visit britishcoachawards.co.uk
