There were 25 award winners at the Travel Centres Conference 2022. This year’s event has a Gatsby-themed gala dinner and awards ceremony which, in keeping with all Travel Centres conferences, included a couple of surprises along the way. This year’s entertainment was provided by Mr Jazz himself, Cary Posavitz and the fabulous Bentley Boys!
Travel Centres Award Winners
In a departure from recent years, awards were nominated by suppliers – each supplier nominated an agency in the Best Large Agent and Best Small Agent categories. The award winners were as follows:
A&G Award
Best Large Agent – Best4Travel
Best Small Agent – Hilary Murphy Travel
Breakaway.ie Award
Best Large Agent – KT Travel
Best Small Agent – Bowe Travel
Celebrity Cruises Award
Best Large Agent – Best4Travel
Best Small Agent – Travel Advisors
Crystal Ski Holidays Award
Best Large Agent – O’Hanrahan Travel
Best Small Agent – Cavan Travel
DoSomethingDifferent.com Award
Best Agent – O’Hanrahan Travel
Hertz Award
Best Large Agent – O’Hanrahan Travel
Best Small Agent – Platinum Travel
MSC Cruises Award
Best Large Agent – Magic Vacations
Best Small Agent – Newbridge Travel (Bernie accepted the award on their behalf)
Royal Caribbean International Award
Best Large Agent – O’Callaghan Travel
Best Small Agent – Ace Travel
Sunway Award
Best Large Agent – Magic Vacations
Best Small Agent – KT Travel
TUI Award
Best Large Agent – Best4Travel
Best Small Agent – Ace Travel
Best Social Media Award
Cloud 9 Travel
Best Supplier Representative
There were three nominees for best supplier representative:
- Dave Smith, TUI
- Jeanette Taylor, Blue Insurance
- Lee Osborne, Bookabed
Winner: Dave Smith, TUI
Best Supplier
There were three nominees for a best supplier:
- TUI
- Bookabed
- Sunway
Winner: Sunway
Two outstanding Contribution Awards
Linda McNamara (RIP January 2022) – Outstanding Contribution to Travel
Tears flowed on stage and in the audience as the unforgettable Linda McNamara was honoured for her larger-than-life presence, her dedication and her devotion to all that knew and loved her. Not a dry eye in the house.
Eoghan Corry – Outstanding Contribution to Travel Journalism
The fantastic Eoghan Corry won a very well-deserved “Outstanding Contribution to Travel Journalism” award. Always the gentleman, he collected his award with a genuine grin. Maith thú Eoghan!
The Final Award – Dominic & Bernie from the Travel Centres Family
Congratulations to Dominic & Bernie and all those in the background who put on an exceptional conference from start to finish. The pair accepted an award from the Travel Centres family.
Best Dressed Prizes go to…
John Barrett of Magic Vacations, a worthy recipient of Best Dressed Male at the Gala Dinner. The Gatsby-themed event at the Travel Centres Conference 2022 had some stiff competition but the always a dapper, John Barrett, stole the show with a pinstripe suit, tilted fedora and million-dollar grin.
Best Dressed Female went to the glamorous suffragettes: Linda Jones from The Travel Boutique and Jackie Spain from Cloud 9. Martina Coogan presented the prizewinners with sizeable hampers to take home with them.
And so, a quote from the classic, The Great Gatsby,
A quote from The Great Gatsby, “So we beat on boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past”
Take whatever meaning you wish but for me, the travel industry tirelessly rows against the current, taking wave after wave of challenges. Our traditions, our connections with one another, and how we have weathered each storm in the past, keep us going. We are a tight-knit group that has grown up together, we have wrinkles and greying hair and memories good and bad but, above all, lasting friendships.
The industry hasn’t had an easy ride but we’ve pulled through it together. We have each other’s backs. It’s why I wouldn’t miss this for the world, seeing all the familiar faces, the memories, the news, the lives lived happily in the meantime.
I love conference season. Not for the glitz and glamour but to see all your faces again. And, I love that we are finally at a stage where we can celebrate our little industry in style once more.
The travel trade may be old-school, fighting the tide against online bookings in faceless algorithms but there’s a wonderful place where old-school customer service and recognised expertise have value. It’s something that will never go out of fashion. It’s in this in-between we live and thrive.
