9 minute read
Business Travel People
Recognising outstanding individuals and teams across all aspects of the supplier element of corporate travel
AND THE WINNER IS...
The Business Travel People Awards were a little diff erent this year but were the perfect way to boost morale in the industry. Bev Fearis reports
The amazing achievements of
individuals and teams in the business travel industry were recognised at The Business Travel People Awards on September 18.
Amid the pandemic challenges, the ceremony provided a much-needed afternoon of celebrations for the business travel community and were a reminder that the sector’s most important assets are its people.
Due to the current restrictions, the awards were held virtually, screened live from a studio in Leicester. “We’re so disappointed that we can’t be with you all in person today,” said Kirsty Hicks, Publisher and Commercial Head Business Travel for organisers Bmi Publishing, as she kicked off the event. “Be rest assured we’ll be getting together to celebrate with you all in person as soon as restrictions allow.”
Leigh Cowlishaw, Chair of the judges and Managing Partner of Black Box Partnerships, added: “Nothing has impacted us more than what we are experiencing right now, but among all the challenges thrown at us the pandemic has also brought our industry together closer than ever before. Never has it been such an important time to recognise the incredible people in our industry.”
There were 18 awards this year, including two new categories recognising a company and individual for their excellence in approach and actions during Covid-19. TripBAM won the company award and the individual accolade went to Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, who watched the ceremony while in Cyprus with his wife visiting family. “I am genuinely touched by the award, it’s been such a team effort. It was great watching the ceremony by the pool and I had a cold beer by my side to celebrate with just in case!” he said.
Rising Star winner, TAG Director of Account Management Peter Snowdon, had a double celebration. Just a few days after the ceremony, his second daughter was born. "It capped off a very memorable weekend!" he said.
THE WINNERS
TRAVEL MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
AND HOTEL BOOKING AGENCIES
Reservations Consultant of the year
WINNER: Christie Heath, Capita Travel and Events FINALISTS: Paige Welsh, Egencia Corporate Travel • Adam Thompson, Egencia Corporate Travel
Reservations Team of the year
WINNER: FCM Medical Repatriation Team, FCM Travel Solutions FINALIST: Reservations Team, UnderTheDoormat
Operations Manager of the year
WINNER: Paul Coates, ATPI FINALISTS: Nicola Harding, Capita Travel and Events • Roberta de Paolis, TripActions
Operations Team of the year
WINNER: Click Travel Operations Team, Click Travel HIGHLY COMMENDED: Egencia Corporate Team, Egencia Corporate Travel FINALIST: Operations Team, UnderTheDoormat
Account Manager of the year
WINNER: Gary Dobbins, Diversity Travel FINALISTS: Hayley France, FCM Travel Solutions • Lisa Hyman, Capita Travel and Events
Account Management Team of the year
WINNER: Capita Travel and Events Account Management Team, Capita Travel and Events FINALISTS: Corporate Traveller Account Management Team, Corporate Traveller • Click Travel Account Management Team, Click Travel
Sales / Business Development Manager of the year
WINNER: Zara Higgins, ATPI FINALIST: Ryan Gray, Capita Travel and Events
Sales / Business Development Team of the year
WINNER: Client Partnerships Sales Team, Business Travel Direct, part of Reed & Mackay FINALIST: UK Sales Team, ATPI
MICE
Meetings and Events Manager of the year
WINNER: Katy Johnson, INNTEL FINALIST: Dani Ives, Focus Travel Partnership
Meetings and Events Team of the year
WINNER: The Meetings and Events Team, Travel Counsellors for Business FINALISTS: Strategic Meetings Team, INNTEL • Events Team, NYS
SUPPLIERS
Sales / Business Development Manager of the year
WINNER: Jessica Blackmore, Dwellworks Living FINALISTS: Nisa Ford, Cheval Collection • Jessica Land, BridgeStreet
Sales / Business Development Team of the year
WINNER: London North Eastern Railway, LNER FINALISTS: Kelly ONeill, Dorota Mmireku, Jenni Lehtonen, Egle Sapiegaite, Strand Palace
Account Manager of the year
WINNER: Graeme O’Donnell, TBR Global Chauff euring FINALISTS: Dominique Cagle, Nika Corporate Housing • Philip Ariss, South African Airways
Account Management Team of the year
WINNER: Synergy Global Accounts Team, Synergy Global Housing FINALIST: Nika Team, Nika Corporate Housing
INDUSTRY
Best Newcomer
WINNER: Ethan Field, Blue Cube Travel FINALISTS: Andrew Whitaker, Reed & Mackay • Jonti Dalal-Small, Capita Travel and Events
Rising Star
WINNER: Peter Snowdon, TAG HIGHLY COMMENDED: Charlotte Winter, Synergy Global Housing FINALIST: Edgar Bailby, Egencia Corporate Travel
COVID
Company excellence in approach and actions during Covid-19
WINNER: TRIPBAM FINALISTS: ClickCare, Click Travel • ATPI • UndertheDoormat
Individual excellence in approach and actions during Covid-19
WINNER: Clive Wratten, The BTA HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kyle Daniels, Clarity FINALIST: Debbie Lundon, Synergy Global Housing
With thanks to the generous sponsors of this year's awards
“It meant the world to me to be recognised by my company and colleagues by the nomination, and then by the surprising news that I’d won this award, for work which I enjoy immensely and which challenges me everyday” Jessica Blackmore, Dwellworks Living
“I am thrilled to have won this award. A big thanks to my wider team at Diversity Travel who support me and ensure our clients get the best possible service day in, day out” Gary Dobbins, Diversity Travel
“ e team are over the moon to have won this award and there were a lot of virtual celebrations and popping of champagne bottles on the teams chat on Friday” Leanne Fowler, Capita Travel and Events
RESERVATIONS CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR CHRISTIE HEATH, CAPITA TRAVEL AND EVENTS
“Bringing in e ciencies meant we could serve customers faster and in a more robust way, in turn vastly improving engagement and putting a smile on the face of the team" Tom Davis, Click Travel
THE WINNERS
BEST NEWCOMER WINNER: ETHAN FIELD, BLUE CUBE TRAVEL “I am absolutely ecstatic about my recent win at the Business Travel People Awards. To get an award early in my career has given me even more confi dence every day. I hope to inspire the next generation of what it means to work in business travel”
RESERVATIONS TEAM OF THE YEAR KEVIN WATKINS, FCM MEDICAL REPATRIATION
ACCOUNT MANAGER OF THE YEAR GRAEME O’DONNELL, TBR GLOBAL CHAUFFEURING
“I’m delighted to win this award in what has been a somewhat tumultuous year for the business travel sector, but I know this couldn’t be possible without the corporate travel team we have at TBR. ey are second to none” Graeme O’Donnell, TBR Global Chauff euring
“I really do have pride and passion for what I do, so to reach this kind of achievement means so much to me" Christie Heath, Capita Travel and Events
RISING STAR WINNER: PETER SNOWDON, TAG “We need to encourage young people to come into this fantastic industry, so I hope I can use this award to help do that"
“To win a People Award this year is particularly meaningful. My team have been truly amazing throughout this di cult period and I dedicate my win to all of them” Katy Johnson, Inntel
SALES / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR WINNER: JESSICA BLACKMORE, DWELLWORKS LIVING
“We were very proud to be named a fi nalist as this is an endorsement of the team's exceptional dedication and pro-active approach to ensuring our clients receive the best possible service"” James McIlvenna, Corporate Traveller
“Being shortlisted shows the team how much not only the hotel appreciates what they have done, but that the wider industry recognises the job they are doing. We are all very proud of them” Ben Chapman, Strand Palace
“"We're delighted to be recognised for our ClickCare product, which puts customer safety in the pandemic at the heart of our service. It's a real credit to the team" Jill Palmer, Click Travel
THE WINNERS
“Both Zara Higgins and Paul Coates have shown real dedication to delivering what really matters to the travel programmes of our current and future clients. I would like to congratulate both individuals on their well-deserved recognition. We were also thrilled to be shortlisted for the Covid-19 award, highlighting the hard work and exemplary service of our teams over the past six months" Adam Knights, ATPI
COMPANY EXCELLENCE IN APPROACH AND ACTIONS DURING COVID-19 WINNER: TRIPBAM “It’s been a stressful and chaotic time for everyone and we are proud to play a part in easing any level of stress and uncertainty for partners and peers. We’ll continue to work together to meet the challenges head-on"
OPERATIONS MANAGER OF THE YEAR WINNER: PAUL COATES, ATPI
“We’re passionate about what we do. We embody our company values in the way we work with and support our partners, so to be recognised with an award, for the fourth time, means a great deal" Samantha McKnight and Mark Plowright, LNER
INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE IN APPROACH AND ACTIONS DURING COVID-19 WINNER: CLIVE WRATTEN, THE BTA “I was really proud, honoured and a little bit humbled. After six months of bad news it was nice for me, personally, to have something to celebrate"
