The Coach Tourism Awards 2012

recognising excellence across the coach tourism community

More than 360 industry professionals and guests from across the coach tourism community gathered at the Holiday Inn in Stratford-upon-Avon on Thursday 10 May to discover the winners of this year’s coveted Coach Tourism Awards.

The national awards scheme is brought to you by leading trade coach tourism magazine, Coach Monthly. The glittering event was hosted by the editor of Coach Monthly, Stuart Render, and television presenter and travel and tourism expert, Judith Chalmers.

Industry professionals travelling to Stratford for the event were able to mix a little business with pleasure at the Coach Tourism Workshop held in the afternoon. This event gave coach tour operators the opportunity to met with leading tourism industry suppliers to discuss plans for coach tour programmes for 2013 and beyond.

The Coach Tourism Awards specifically focus on the coach tourism community, recognising the very best coach operators, coach friendly destinations and visitor attractions, and tourism suppliers.

The awards also give an opportunity to recognise those people whose hard work, enthusiasm and commitment make them worthy ambassadors for coach tourism.

2012 Winners

Coach Friendly Town or City of the Year:	Liverpool
Coach Friendly Visitor Attraction of the Year:	Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Coach Friendly Shopping Destination of the Year:	Boundary Mill Stores
Cross-sea Carrier of the Year	P&O Ferries
Accommodation Provider of the Year –
Hotel groups:	Accor Hotels
Accommodation Provider of the Year –
Individual hotels:	The Winnock Hotel, Loch Lomond
Ticket Supplier of the Year:	Encore Tickets
Tour Wholesaler of the Year:	Greatdays Travel Group
Holiday Programme of the Year:	Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel
Day Excursion Programme of the Year:	Lucketts Travel
Coach Tour Operator Brochure of the Year:	Harry Shaw Travel
Coach Tour Operator Website of the Year:	Shearings Holidays
Coach Tourism Green Award	Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
Coach Tourism Professional of the Year:	Karen Hobus – Eddie Brown Tours
	Brian Hurrell – Ulsterbus Tours
Coach Drivers’ Club award for
‘Coach Tour Driver of the Year’:	Andrew Nash, Kevendys Travel
Coach Tour Operator of the Year – small fleets:	Moving People
Coach Tour Operator of the Year – large fleets:	Edwards Coach Holidays
Coach Monthly ‘Special Award’:	Amanda Harrington

Full details of all the winners are in the June issue of Coach Monthly.

Click here to see a selection of photos from the afternoon and evening events