Lee Travel Win Travel Agent of the Year at the Irish Travel Industry Awards

Lee Travel Win Travel Agent of the Year at the Irish Travel Industry Awards

24^th January 2014  Lee Travel were crowned as the winners of the ITAA Travel Agency of the Year 2014 at the annual Irish Travel Industry Awards in Dublin last night (Thursday 23^rd January). The prestigious awards gala took place in the elegant surrounds of the Mansion House and was attended by travel and tourism professionals from around the World to celebrate the hard working and skilful travel professionals operating within Ireland.

The winning agency from Cork was crowned ITAA Travel Agency of the Year 2014, due to their impressive customer service, notorious expertise and their wide range of travel options available from their five offices in Cork and their website www.leetravel.ie

Other big winners on the night included, FCm Travel who won Best ITAA Corporate Travel Agency and Earth’s Edge who won Best ITAA Member Website.

The hotly contended ITAA Overall Travel Professional went to Katrina McMullen from Navan Travel, whilst the award for Best ITAA Corporate Travel Professional went to Lelia Gregory from Carlson Wagonlit and the award for Best ITAA Leisure Travel Professional went to Christine Rickard from Tour America.

Tanya Airey of Sunway Travel was this year’s recipient of the special ‘Contribution to the Irish travel Industry Award’.

Speaking about the Awards, Pat Dawson, CEO of the ITAA said, “The Irish Travel Industry Awards are a great way to recognise the innovation and talent that is operating with the Irish travel and tourism sector. I wish to extend my congratulations to all of the winners, especially Lee Travel who were well deserved winners of the ITAA Travel Agency of the Year award. ”

Speaking of the Awards, Clare Dunne, President of the ITAA said, “At last, talk of recession is receding – and the new buzz word for 2014 is recovery! I hope that the positivity that was prevalent at the award ceremony surrounding the Irish travel and tourism sector will continue throughout 2014. I wish to congratulate all of our winners, and thank our sponsors without whom the ITAA Irish Travel Industry Awards would not be possible”.

The Irish Travel Industry Awards are an initiative of the Irish Travel Agents Association with the support of Worldchoice, Travel Centres and Travelsavers. This year’s Master of Ceremonies was none other than the charming presenter and broadcaster, Miriam O’Callaghan.

The annual event is designed to showcase excellence within the industry and the difficult job of judging the Award Winners fell to a panel of judges, chaired by Tom Lonergan.  The Irish Travel Industry Awards 2014 was sponsored by Amadeus, American Airlines, British Airways, DAA, Falcon Holidays, Hertz, Independent News and Media, O’Leary Insurance, Sunways, The Holiday World Show, The Travel Corporation, TravelBiz.ie, and Turkish Airlines.

Full List of Winners at the Irish Travel Industry Awards:

AIR TRAVEL CATEGORY SPONSORED BY: DAA

Best Airline to Europe Aer Lingus

Best Airline to North America United Airlines

Best Long Haul Airline Etihad Airways

TOUR OPERATORS CATEGORY SPONSORED BY: HERTZ

Best European Sun Tour Operator Sunway

Best Long Haul Tour Operator Sunway

Best Specialist Tour Operator Insight Vacations

Best Ski Tour Operator Crystal Holidays

Best Escorted Tour Operator Insight Vacations

CRUISE & FERRY CATEGORY SPONSORED BY: HOLIDAY WORLD

Best General Cruise Company Royal Caribbean International

Best Ultra Luxury Cruise Company Silversea Cruises

Best Specialist Cruise Company Uniworld

Best Ferry Company Irish Ferries

AGENCY SERVICES PROVIDER CATEGORY SPONSORED BY: TRAVELBIZ.IE

Best Technology Provider Amadeus

Best Car Hire Company Hertz

Best Travel Insurance Provider Blue Insurances

Best Tourist Board Spanish Tourist Board

Best Supplier Representative Rebecca Kelly – MSC Cruises

DESTINATIONS CATEGORY SPONSORED BY: TURKISH AIRLINES

Best European City Destination Barcelona

Best Worldwide City Destination New York

Best Ski Destination Austria

Best Summer Sun Destination Spain

Best Winter Sun Destination Lanzarote

Best Worldwide Theme Park Universal Orlando Resort

ACCOMMODATION CATEGORY SPONSORED BY: ITAA

Best Worldwide Hotel Chain Marriott

Best Irish Hotel Chain Jurys

Best Accommodation-Only Provider BookaBed.ie

ITAA MEMBER EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS AWARDS SPONSORED BY: AMERICAN AIRLINES

Best ITAA Leisure Travel Professional Christine Rickard – Tour America

Best ITAA Corporate Travel Professional Lelia Gregory – Carlson Wagonlit

Best ITAA Overall Travel Professional Katrina McMullen – Navan Travel

ITAA MEMBER TRAVEL AGENCY AWARDS SPONSORED BY: BRITISH AIRWAYS

Best ITAA Corporate Travel Agency FCm Travel Solutions

Best ITAA Member Website Earth’s Edge

ITAA Travel Agency of the Year Lee Travel