British Travel Awards 2009 - winners announced in Battersea gala

The British Travel Awards 2009 were held yesterday at a gala ceremony in Battersea. The British Travel Awards are widely referred to as the “Oscars” of the travel industry and are regarded as the benchmark for excellence. With over 90,000 votes cast in 2008, the British Travel Awards are the largest arbiter of public opinion on the UK travel industry.

This year's British Travel Awards winners include:

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE CATEGORIES

Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible
Winner
Thomson Airways

Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Budget Airline
Winner
Flybe

Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Large Tour
Winner
First Choice Holidays

Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Small Tour
Winner
Tribes Travel

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BUSINESS TRAVEL CATEGORIES

Best Business/First Class Airline
Winner
Virgin Atlantic
Silver
British Airways

Best Business Car Hire Company
Winner
Avis
Silver
Hertz
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AIRLINE & AIRPORT CATEGORIES

Best Economy Class Airline
Winner
Easyjet
Silver
Virgin Atlantic

Best No Frills / Charter Airline
Winner
Easyjet
Silver
Thomson Airways

Best Scheduled Airline - Europe
Winner
British Airways
Silver
Monarch

Best Scheduled Airline - Long Haul
Winner
Virgin Atlantic
Silver
British Airways

Best Overseas Airport
Winner
Singapore (SIN)
Silver
Dubai (DBX)
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INTERNET TRAVEL CATEGORIES

Best Travel Information Website
Winner
TripAdvisor.co.uk
Silver
Expedia

Best Flight Booking Website
Winner
expedia.co.uk
Silver
easyjet.com

Best Accommodation Booking Website
Winner
expedia.co.uk
Silver
lastminute.com

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DESTINATIONS

Best City Break Destination
Winner
Barcelona
Silver
Paris

Best UK Holliday Destination
Winner
Cornwall
Silver
London

Favourite Country to Visit
Winner
USA
Silver
Italy

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TRAVEL TRADE CATEGORIES

Travel Recruitment Company of the Year
Winner
Travel Trade Recruitment (traveltradejobs.com)
Silver
Travelindustryjobs.co.uk

Travel Industry Training Programme/Company of the Year
Winner
TUI UK & Ireland Agent Training (Thomson and First Choice)
Silver
Training For Travel

Best Trade Support Website (product support and info)
Winner
Gazetteers
Silver

Best Trade Booking Website - Accommodation
Winner
Superbreak
Silver
Gold Medal

Best Trade Booking Website - Flights
Winner
Gold Medal
Silver
Jet2

Best Trade Booking Website - Tickets, Attractions & Holiday Add Ons
Winner
Attraction World
Silver
Holiday Extras

Best Supplier Networking Travel Event or Conference (>150 delegates)
Winner
World Travel Market
Silver
UK Cruise Convention

Best Travel Agent Event or Conference (>150 delegates)
Winner
ABTA
Silver
World Travel Market

Best B2B Industry Communication
Winner
Travel Weekly
Silver
TTG

Suppliers Sales Team of the Year
Winner
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Silver
Virgin Holidays

Hotel Rafayel congratulates all winners of this coveted award.