BTA’S SURVEY REVEALS HOLIDAY 2012 PREDICTIONS
TravelVison Seminar in association with CIMTIG - Monday 5th December 2011

THE BRITISH Travel Awards (BTAs), best known for recognising the best in the travel industry, also conducts the UK’s largest survey of UK consumer travel related behaviour - published as the annual TravelVision Report. One hundred travel industry people will have the opportunity to preview the latest TravelVision survey with predicted travel behaviour and likely trends for 2012, at a seminar and networking event being held, in association with CIMTIG, on Monday 5th December at The Bloomsbury Hotel, London WC1. All attendees will receive a bound copy of the TravelVision results.

Now in its fourth year the survey gives a comprehensive picture of the travel habits and future travel intentions of UK holidaymakers. Consumers are encouraged to take part in the online survey when voting for their favourite travel companies in the British Travel Awards and this year 71,367 households voted in the awards, of which 21,204 went on to complete the 31 question survey, asking them about their holiday budgets, destinations and emotional drivers for 2012.

In addition to the TravelVision lecture delivered by British Travel Awards chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton, TravelVision sponsor and Official London 2012 partner Deloitte LLP’s Graham Picket will present ’Looking Ahead to 2012’ and guest speaker, TfL’s Rose McCarthur will continue the Olympic theme with a ‘Ready or Not – here it comes – London 2012’ presentation.

Ms Barnes Burton said: “The TravelVision seminar will provide a key insight into the upcoming seasons, and demonstrate the importance of accurate live booking market data during one of the most challenging periods the industry has ever faced.”
Networking receptions with drinks and canapés will be held both before and after the formal part of the evening.

The timings are:-
- Reception: 17:30 -18:30 drinks & canapés
- Seminar & questions: 18:30 - 19:30
- Networking: 19:30 - 20:30

Ticket price (including the BTA TravelVision Report): £75+vat
To book contact: sophie@britishtravelawards.com

Sponsored by Deloitte, Levy Associates and The Bloomsbury Hotel.
www.britishtravelawards.com

NOTES TO EDITORS
*The BTA TravelVision Survey
Alongside voting forms for the 2011 British Travel Awards voters were invited to complete a comprehensive survey covering 31 questions on holiday habits, plans, budgets, changes and intentions for 2011 including package holidays, direct bookings, ancillary products and holiday budgets. The majority of the response was completed between July and October 2011 and the respondents came from a wide range of demographic. 65% of the respondents were aged between 36 and 64, 75% were married or living with a partner and 54% had children between two and eleven years old.

*CIMTIG is the travel industry group of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the world's largest marketing organisation with some 50,000 members. CIMTIG promotes marketing excellence within travel and provides networking, career and study opportunities to marketing professionals in this exciting and vibrant industry.

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BRITISH TRAVEL AWARDS 2011 REVEAL THE VERY BEST TRAVEL COMPANIES
With Thomson collecting 18 awards!

THE 2011 BRITISH TRAVEL AWARDS, which took place last night 2 November, celebrated a line up of winning travel companies as voted for by the British public. This year more than 700,000 votes were cast – three times more than last year – making The British Travel Awards (BTA) the largest independent awards scheme in the UK.

Over one thousand of the UK travel industry’s movers and shakers packed Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park, London to hear writer, broadcaster and actor, Gyles Brandreth announce the companies winning the prestigious BTA trophies. In celebration of the special forthcoming 2012 Olympics year BTA sponsor Lloyds TSB arranged for the Olympic Torch to take pride of place at the venue and the occasion was honoured with the presence of Gold winning heptathlete Denise Lewis, 100 and 400 metres paralympian Bethy Woodward, and Paralympian tennis athlete, Liam O’Reilly. In addition a special award ‘Best Spectator Sports Tours Operator’ was created to acknowledge the hard work being done by the travel industry to ensure the millions of visitors expected in London are well looked after. Thomas Cook Sport won this award, with Thomson Sport taking Silver and Gullivers Sports Travel receiving Bronze.

The battle for which company would receive the most awards, between the many brands that encompass the Thomas Cook and Thomson organisations, saw Thomson pip the post with an impressive eighteen awards against Thomas Cooks’ fifteen. Amongst their collection Thomson picked up the winning awards for Large Tour Operator of the Year, Best Travel Agency for Customer Service, Best All Inclusive Tour Operator and Best Ski and Winter Sports Tour Operator. Thomas Cook won the Best Tour Operator for its programmes to Europe & The Canary Islands, Southern Asia, East and Central Asia and its tours division won Best Escorted Tour Operator.

The Virgin brand also did well collecting a total of fifteen awards across its airline, holiday and cruise divisions including the winner Best Economy Class Airline, and Best Airline Customer Service.

But it wasn’t just about the ‘Big Boys’, a company with its HQ in Brazil won the Small Tour Operator of the Year, with the proud owners of Dehouche flying in from Rio to collect their award.

The highly prized Airline of the Year Award was given to Emirates and the UAE based airline also collected Best Business / First Class Airline. Avis, long time favourite of BTA voters, clawed back Car Hire Company of the Year, after a one-year lapse when Hertz took the crown. Cunard won Cruise Line of the Year and co-operativetravel.co.uk winning Travel Agency of the Year was one of a hat trick of awards for The Co-op! P & O Cruises won Best Mainstream Cruise Line, Best Luxury Cruise Line and Best Family Cruise Line.

Australia is the Best Country according to BTA voters, with Florida the Best USA Holiday State and New York the Best City Break Destination. Back home the British public still love Cornwall and it was again voted Best UK Holiday County or Region, with St. Ives winning Best UK Seaside Town.

Since the British Travel Awards inception The Post Office has taken the Best Foreign Exchange / Travel Money Retailer and Best Travel Insurance Provider and this year was no exception.

For the second year running Premier Inn picked up a trio of awards with Best Leisure Hotel Chain, Best Business Hotel Chain and Hotel Chain of the Year.

BTA’s chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “ From relatively small beginnings the British Travel Awards has gone from strength to strength and now in its sixth year the British public has cast an incredible number of votes for their favourite travel companies. Next year we hope to pass the one million mark – the British Travel Awards are without doubt the largest independent consumer voted independent awards scheme in the UK.

“The British Travel Awards’ the winning accolades are the benchmark for excellence when it comes to finding out who really is the best in the business of travel for the UK consumer. All winners are to be congratulated on their achievement.”

Audited by Deloitte and the only travel industry accolade voted for by such a wide demographic of the UK’s travelling public, The British Travel Awards in association with Lloyds TSB Cardnet, serves to recognise all that is great about UK travel companies – according to the all important customer.

This year the British Travel Awards went Green teaming up with voluntary emissions reductions specialists Carbon Neutral Investments, to make the BTAs 2011 100% carbon neutral - covering all the power used at the event and the estimated travel to and from Battersea for the eleven hundred or so attending crowd.

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BTA SPONSORS REACHING 17 MILLION CONSUMERS
With travel giant TUI Travel PLC now confirmed

THE BRITISH TRAVEL AWARDS (BTA) has announced a bumper list of sponsors confirmed for this year’s event taking place on 2nd November. Lloyds TSB returns as headline sponsor, and BTA auditor Deloitte LLP remains in place as the authority that ensures and verifies integrity and transparency in the voting process. Recognising the value of a formal association with the UK’s largest travel awards programme, new sponsors include travel giant TUI Travel PLC; foreign exchange retailer Travelex; escorted tours and coach holidays company Milestones Tours; creative design, branding and marketing company FST Creative Agency; hotel and resort specialists Resort Marketing; and Sunday Times FastTrack 100 IT solutions company Levy Associates.

BTA’s chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “Our sponsors are obviously seeing a return on investment as so many return year after year. It’s very gratifying that the reputation of the British Travel Awards continues to grow and attract new sponsors of the calibre of TUI Travel PLC.”

Sponsor benefits include exposure on all BTA collateral, including the rolling advertisements on the website and a share of the advertisement allocation within the travel pages of BTA media partner News International’s publications. In addition, sponsors receive advertising space in the BTA’s own consumer-facing digital interactive publication Check In. The launch issue of Check In will be promoted to 17 million consumers, including Lloyds TSB cardholders with a special statement insert going to their customers this month. The subscriber audience also comprises previous BTA consumer voters.

Other confirmed sponsors include P&O Ferries, Do Something Different, Avis and WTM, all signing up for the fourth year; with Viking River Cruises and TTA /Worldchoice celebrating their third year in November; and GTA once again providing complimentary coaches and hotdogs for all BTA guests at the gala event on 2nd November.

Ms Barnes Burton said: “Consumer voting for the 2011 British Travel Awards is now well under way, with shortlisted companies utilising the BTA vote-and-click buttons on their website and enthusiastically promoting their status as BTA nominees to encourage votes from their satisfied customers. Any companies not lobbying for votes need to keep up. They mustn’t be shy; their customers won’t know to vote unless they suggest it!”

Companies shortlisted for ‘Of the Year’ and ‘Olympic’ categories also need to complete a criteria form. This can be downloaded from the BTA website, and needs to be returned by 24th August.

Tables and seats for The British Travel Awards 2011 taking place on 2 November 2011 are available to reserve online at www.britishtravelawards.com Click on the ‘Awards Night Tickets’ button at the top of the home page and choose positions from the remaining seats. A table of ten is priced at £2,500 + VAT, or individuals at £260 + VAT.

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BTAs supporting the specialist operators

LAST YEAR The British Travel Awards (BTAs) introduced new specialist destination awards, giving the smaller tour operators the chance to compete against the larger companies. This year the BTAs have taken it a step further and working alongside industry body the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) have created even more specialist operator awards. This year as well as the overall Gold winner for each of the BTA categories, there will also be an award for Best Independent Operator for each of the specialist awards. The encouragement has certainly worked with more than fifty members of AITO shortlisted covering 128 nominations for a 2011 BTA!

New “specialist operator” categories have been introduced covering weddings and honeymoons; safari, nature and wildlife; activity and special interest.

BTA’s chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “Last year we introduced a fairer voting process for the tour operator destination awards, this gave the small guys a chance against the big boys. What it means is those companies who specialise in one particular destination or theme can be recognised for their excellence without the need to compete against the larger companies operating across many of the destinations or themes within the group region.”

Ms Barnes Burton continued: “This year, by announcing the best independent operator in the specialist categories – we aim to give the smaller companies the same valuable marketing tools that a nominee and eventual winner logo from the BTAs has historically given the bigger companies. The shortlisted independent operators must now get their lobbying campaigns together. They can, for example, request a BTA Nominee click to vote button to use on their websites and other online marketing material. They need to let their customers know they’ve been shortlisted and get the votes coming in!’

The shortlisted independent companies collect votes from the consumer in the usual way but when the votes are collated, as confirmed by independent auditors Deloitte, the votes for the independents will be separated to give Best Independent Operator in that category. Of course it would still be possible for an independent operator to win the overall British Travel Award for the category and also the silver, if enough votes are received to beat the large operators. The new Best Independent Operator Award replaces the bronze that is awarded in all other categories.

AITO’s executive director Kate Kenward said: “I’m really thrilled to see so many AITO members coming in as finalists in the BTAs. We have just over fifty AITO members shortlisted for awards covering 128 nominations, including some of our AITO Specialist Travel Agents, which is a tremendous result. It’s incredible to see our small/medium sized specialist operators and agents in the same categories as some of the big, mass market companies.  An indicator perhaps that travelers are seeing the real value of travelling with a specialist operator who really knows their destination or theme inside out!”

Ms Barnes Burton said: “Winning an award really does carry clout and the winner’s logo is now widely recognised by the consumer. 2010 winners have been proudly and prominently displaying the BTA winners logo on some very visible marketing materials including massive advertising hoardings at Heathrow, Gatwick and on the A4!”

Tables and seats for the 2011 The British Travel Awards taking place on 2 November 2011 are available to reserve online at www.britishtravelawards.com click on the “Awards Night Tickets” button at the top of the home page.

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Last chance to nominate
BTA deadline extended to June 4
Short-list as of 25 May now published

AS THEY SAY you’ve got to be in it to win it and in order to have a chance of winning one of the coveted British Travel Awards a nomination has to be made! www.britishtravelawards.com has now published the names of all companies shortlisted as of 25 May so check it out to see if your company or the company you ‘meant’ to nominate is already shortlisted and if not you’re in luck as the deadline for nominations has been extended until Friday 4 June.

It’s really easy to nominate- just click through to the website and it will take only a few minutes to enter the details. PLUS don’t forget everyone who submits an online nomination will be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to this year’s British Travel Awards gala event, including overnight accommodation, or an I-Pad.

After the nominations stage the all in important consumer voting begins with once again The Times, Sunday Times, News of the World, Sun and LBC radio all promoting voting and supporting the British Travel Awards and the shortlisted companies with editorial coverage.

BTA’s chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “The trade must react to this call for action and not just expect someone else to make the nomination. Companies won’t be put in front of the consumer voter unless they are nominated.”

This year nearly all of the awards are purely consumer voted, however, the ultimate ‘Of the Year’ awards also require a submission which is judged by the independent, expert BTA Academy. Plus there are four ‘trade’ only awards

• Best Travel Recruitment Company


• Best B2B Travel Industry Online Communication


• Best B2B Travel Industry Publication


• Best Supplier Website – trade facing

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Chance to win an iPad
By Making British Travel Awards’ Nominations

GREAT PRIZES, including an iPad, are up for grabs to travel industry personnel simply by nominating their favourite travel companies, brands or attractions, for awards in the 2011 British Travel Awards (BTAs). Everybody who makes a nomination online is entered into a free prize draw with other prizes on offer including tickets to the BTAs Gala Dinner in November with hotel accommodation, plus some great holiday prizes.

It’s easy to log in to www.britishtravelawards.com and nominate potential winners for any of the one hundred awards. Hurry as not a lot of time – nominations need to be made by 4th June.

It’s not necessary to nominate for every category on the form, in fact the BTAs request that nominations should only be made for companies where there is direct experience of working with, or an understanding of the product range and working practice of the company being nominated.

Once nominations close the short-listed companies will pass to the next stage of the process, which is consumer voting and this opens on 4 July. All companies that achieved winner, silver or bronze status in 2010 will be automatically short-listed for 2011 alongside those companies, brands or attractions that have the most nominations.

The full list of awards and details of the judging process are posted on the BTA website where nominations can be made www.britishtravelawards.com

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Travel trade’s chance to nominate winners!
Countdown to find 2011’s top 100 travel companies
With new categories and new website

The COUNTDOWN to the 2011 British Travel Awards (BTAs) has officially started, with the travel trade getting their chance to nominate those companies that deserve to be put forward for the prestigious awards. Individuals can make as many nominations as they like but should have direct experience of working with, or an understanding of the nominated companies product range and business practice. Until 4th June, everyone who submits a nomination will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to this year’s British Travel Awards gala event, including overnight accommodation, or an iPad.

This year the process has been made even simpler with a brand new, super clear website making nominating easy and helping the end decision makers, the consumer voters, cast their votes without fuss. Travel companies can request a ‘Nominate Us’ online button to assist with lobbying, marketing campaigns via the website.

The one hundred award categories have been fine tuned for 2011 and see the introduction of new awards, such as, ‘Best Specialist Adult - Only Tour Operator’, ‘Best Specialist Singles Holiday Tour Operator’, ‘Best UK Departure Cruise Line’, ‘Best Holidays by Train Operator’ and ‘Best Coach Holiday Operator’.

The specialist travel media awards have been expanded this year to include ‘Best Radio Travel Programme’ and the boom in mobile phone technology has inspired the ‘Best Tour Operator iPad/ Smart Phone App’ award.

This year nearly all of the awards are consumer voted, however, the ultimate ‘Of the Year’ awards also require a submission which is judged by the independent, expert BTA Academy. In addition, three new awards have been created in honour of the special 2012 Olympic year, these are ‘Most Innovative 2012 Domestic Travel package’; ‘Most Innovative 2012 Inbound Tour Operator and ‘Most Innovative 2012 Olympics Local Tourism Partnership. These awards will also require a submission and judging by the BTA Academy.

BTA’s chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “The trade must react to this call for action and not just expect someone else to make the nomination. Companies won’t be put to the consumer vote unless they are nominated.”

The travel industry has until 4th June to make nominations before the consumer voting begins in earnest on 4 July – last year more than 220,000 consumer votes were cast electronically for the UK’s favourite travel companies in an awards process that ensures integrity and transparency as verified by Deloitte LLP.

The full list of awards and details of the judging process are posted on the BTA website where nominations can be made www.britishtravelawards.com

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Industry Honour for British Travel Awards Founder

BRITISH Travel Awards CEO Lorraine Barnes Burton was honoured with the accolade of being named one of the Top 100 Most influential Women in Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism. Created by the Women 1st organisation, the inaugural Top 100 announcements were unveiled at a glittering ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel, with TV presenter Gaby Roslin hosting the evening. Lorraine was in illustrious company with other women recognised including Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, food writers and TV presenters Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith and Julie Southern chief commercial officer Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Lorraine’s achievement in co-founding the British Travel Awards was acknowledged with the event described as a ‘”fantastic awards night that is a ‘must do’ date in the travel calendar”. Lorraine’s initiative in producing the Travel Vision survey – the largest UK consumer study of travel behaviour – was also recognised.

Lorraine said of her achievement: “I am really proud to have been included in the Top 100 Most Influential Women list, alongside such powerful women. The British Travel Awards has come a long way in just six years, with the winner’s logo now coveted and displayed proudly by many major companies in the travel industry.”

Natalie Bickford, chair of Women 1st and HR director UK & Ireland at Sodexo, said: "The launch of the inaugural Top 100 Most Influential Women in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry recognises the achievements of our sector's most inspirational leaders and showcases their success. I believe this is long-overdue recognition of the impact and influence women have throughout the industry."

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BTA’S TravelVision Survey
Reveals Holiday 2011 Insight

London 15 February 2011: THE BRITISH Travel Awards (BTA), well known for recognising the best in the travel industry, also conducts the UK’s largest survey of UK consumer travel related behaviour. BTA CEO Lorraine Barnes Burton revealed the findings of the latest TravelVision survey, involving more than 27,000 participants, at a joint BTA CIMTIG* lecture last night.

Now in its third year the survey gives a comprehensive picture of the travel habits and future travel intentions of UK holidaymakers. Consumers are encouraged to take part in the online survey when voting for their favourite travel companies in the British Travel Awards.

Ms Barnes Burton said: “This snapshot of consumer intentions is more than twice as large as any other survey of its kind. The TravelVision survey looks at what consumers are going to do, rather than what they did.”

Good news announced last night was that holidays are considered an essential in forging a work / life balance and despite current economic constraint holidays remain an important lifestyle choice. Only 9% of respondents said that a holiday is a luxury or claim that they do not take a holiday when money is tight. This is a significant improvement over last year’s figures, when 16% of consumers said they would forego their holiday.

The trend for ‘dynamic packaging’ or self-booking separately components such as air, hotel and transfers through the internet, looks like it may take a knocking. On the up are those who prefer to deal with just one operator, 10% of the participants say they don’t feel safe booking separate parts of their holiday independently, which is up from last year. For the first time since the survey started the number of consumers who said they would book everything independently online is down by 7%. Ms Barnes Burton said: “This may be due to the extraordinary circumstances and press coverage of disrupted holidays during 2010 and the need for security when booking a holiday.”

Likewise the services provided by travel agencies appears to be having a renaissance with a 5% increase in the number of responders who said they will get advice from, and book their 2011 holiday with a travel agent.

Also revealed by Ms Barnes Burton at the TravelVision lecture was a significant increase in sensitivity to price with promotions and special offers an influencing factor. Consumers are also doing their research, gathering information from several information channels before making a purchase. Blogs and social networking sites are posting information that consumers are taking notice of and Ms Barnes Burton warned that travel companies must react quickly in response to critical postings, as ‘citizen journalism’ is usually swift to criticise and slow to praise.

Ms Barnes Burton summed up her review of the TravelVision survey results and the influences affecting consumer holiday choice: “Price is an important factor but it is the extra information, security and knowledge about their holiday choice which is encouraging the consumer to make their final decision and feel confident that their holiday budget is money well spent.”

Hosted by BTA and CIMTIG and sponsored by Deloitte LLP, Lingo OMS and The Doyle Collection of Hotels the TravelVision lecture took place on 14th February 2011 at The Bloomsbury Hotel in London.

If you did not receive a full British Travel Awards 2010/11 TravelVision Report with this press release please email jane@britishtravelawards.com for a copy.

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Important dates BTA Check In – Issue 3 : Out now, click on cover picture 2012 nomination cycle : 02/04/12 - 31/05/12 2012 voting cycle : 01/07/12 - 30/09/12

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