Travel Brochure PDF 12/10/06 12:49 Page 1 Travel Brochure PDF 12/10/06 12:49 Page 2

Introduction

Welcome to the 20th Guardian, Observer and Guardian beaches, ancient ruins, mountains and, most importantly, the Unlimited Travel Awards. When the Observer launched these communities – on which this industry so heavily relies. awards two decades ago, they were the first reader awards of We also wanted to give a special mention to larger operators any kind to feature in a national newspaper. They were fairly that, despite our scoring system, sometimes get overlooked in basic, with only five categories: best tour operator (Thomson), certain categories as they are providing a high level of service to favourite airline (British Airways), favourite UK destination (Lake such a large number of people; those categories are tour District), short-haul (France) and long-haul destination (US). But operator and short break company. Therefore, for these then so was the way we travelled back then: take a break in the categories we have awarded two winners, one mainstream UK, or book a package deal with a travel agent to somewhere operator and one specialist operator. Mainstream companies sunny. were those who had 3% or more of the total votes, specialist These days, we’re much more likely to put together our own companies those that had less. holidays to any destination in the world with cheap online For the 2006 awards, we received 15,000 completed flights than we are to visit a high street travel agent questionnaires (there were 9,000 in the first year). The coupon (interestingly, the winner of this year’s travel agent prize, Travel was published for three weeks in the Guardian, the Observer Counsellors, a network of travel specialists, will come to your and on Guardian Unlimited earlier this year asking readers home). As a result, over the years, we’ve expanded and refined about their holidays. An independent company recorded the the categories in the awards to reflect this. For example, we data and, in the following pages, you can see how the introduced the notion of rating the quality of service over sheer responses have been translated into table results. The scoring is quantity of votes; we introduced a section for online booking straightforward, with readers being asked to rate the quality of service; the best short-haul airline category reflects the the service they received on their holidays by ticking four boxes: spectacular growth in weekend breaks abroad, and is now excellent, good, fair or poor. Each company’s score was dominated not only by the low-cost airlines but also by more translated into a percentage, allowing us to compare small established airlines, such as British Airways, that have had to companies – assessed on fewer holidaymakers’ ratings – with compete for this market. larger rivals. In terms of destinations, France and the US, were the old When we set up these awards two decades ago, nobody could favourites, but over the years, our readers have become much have predicted how much would change in the way we travel. more adventurous, and countries from Iceland to Slovenia, and But one thing remains certain: word of mouth is always the best Chile to New Zealand have since topped these categories. guide to where to go on holiday, who to go with and where to This year, we’ve introduced the ethical tourism prize as a stay. Which is why asking the readers of the Guardian, the reflection of readers’ growing appetite for sustainable travel. Observer and Guardian Unlimited Travel for their personal We want to reward companies and schemes that are making a recommendations remains as relevant today as it was 20 years real effort to protect and sustain the assets – the pristine ago.

Andy Pietrasik, Joanne O’Connor Liane Katz, Travel editor, Travel editor, Travel editor, The Guardian The Observer Guardian Unlimited 1 Travel Brochure PDF 12/10/06 12:49 Page 4

Best travel agent Best online booking service

After three years at the top, Trailfinders have been pipped by Travel Direct Holidays have made an impressive leap from 14th place in last Counsellors, who use an innovative system of travel agents working year’s awards to take victory this year, while the airlines have shown a by phone from home. big improvement with British Airways, Easyjet and Jet2.com all making it into the top six.

rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings rankings 1 Travel Counsellors – 247 99.29 1 directholidays.co.uk 14 90 90.56 2 Trailfinders 1 609 90.72 2 explore.co.uk 5 63 90.08 3 Travelcare 6 101 88.37 3 exodus.co.uk 1 84 88.69 4 Co-op Travel – 120 85 4 jet2.com 2 68 87.87 5 Dial A Flight.co.uk 10 49 84.69 5 easyjet.com 13 566 85.16 6 British Airways Holidays 12 44 84.66 6 britishairways.com 17 397 85.14 7 STA Travel 2 214 84 7 travelbag.co.uk 18 70 85 8 Expedia.co.uk 4 266 83.46 8 firstchoice.co.uk 21 134 84.33 9 Opodo 15 55 82.73 9 virginholidays.co.uk 4 110 82.95 10 Airline Network 7 50 81.5 10 airline-network.co.uk 9 111 82.88 11 Flight Centre 3 85 80.59 11 expedia.co.uk 10 1241 82.7 12 Travelbag 8 103 80.1 12 opodo.co.uk 22 263 81.56 13 Going Places 13 148 80.07 13 travelocity.co.uk 24 74 81.42 14 Lunn Poly 19 61 79.92 14 airmiles.co.uk 28 74 81.08 15 Thomas Cook 9 469 79.37 15 thomson.co.uk 26 193 80.18 16 First Choice 20 207 77.17 16 thomascook.com 7 129 78.88 17 Lastminute.com 11 182 75.55 17 lastminute.com 25 643 78.69 18 Ebookers 17 60 74.17 18 ryanair.com 30 420 78.33 19 eurostar.com 23 102 78.19 20 ebookers.com 29 229 75.76

Total 3,070 82.9

Total 5,061 82.9

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Best tour operator Best short break company Best ski company Best cruise line

This year we’ve split this category into two – mainstream and Again we’re using two categories, which has opened up the way for Once again a specialist company takes the best ski company title – With its unstuffy cruise product aimed at a younger, more active specialist – to acknowledge the very different type of market they online travel agent Expedia to grab the top spot in the mainstream Waymark operate cross-country, telemark and snowshoeing trips clientele, Ocean Village has beaten off competition from more serve. Heading the mainstream category is long-haul operator Audley category. In the specialist category, last year’s winner, Inntravel, takes among others, which prove hugely popular among their loyal traditional cruise lines to take this year’s number one slot. Travel, while in the specialist category tailor-made Africa operator the title for the fourth year running. clientele. Inghams comes top among the big ski operators, just Rainbow Tours hangs onto its lead for the third consecutive year. pipping Neilson to the post.

rankings last year's coupons % score rankingsrankings last last year'syear's coupons coupons % % scorescore rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings rankingsrankings rankings rankings Mainstream operators 1 MainstreamTrailfinders operators 1 739 90.6 1 Waymark Holidays 2 40 90 1 Ocean Village 14 21 79.76 1 Audley Travel – 423 99.23 21 ExpediaSTA Travel 8 945135 84.07 88.6 2 Eurostar 9 21 85.71 2 Thomson Cruises 15 44 69.89 2 Trailfinders 10 304 90.87 23 EurostarFlight Centre 12 9 561194 82.89 86.9 3 Equity Travel 13 23 83.7 3 Royal Caribbean International 4 66 63.64 3 Explore 17 215 88.14 34 TheExpedia.co.uk Airmiles Travel Company 17 7 365 95 81.58 86.4 4 Virgin Holidays 4 21 80.95 4 DFDS Seaways 13 24 62.5 4 Kuoni 27 250 86.4 45 ThomsonBath Travel 21 - 137 54 81.285.7 5 Iglu 12 42 80.36 5 Princess Cruises 8 43 60.47 5 Virgin Holidays 25 206 84.71 56 CrestaTravelcare Holidays 8 - 507101 81.19 85.4 6 Inghams Travel 11 153 79.41 6 Celebrity Cruises 1 14 58.93 6 British Airways Holidays 42 187 82.49 67 BritishAirline AirwaysNetwork Holidays 15 - 242 57 79.96 84.2 7 Neilson 3 107 79.21 7 P&O Cruises 9 140 58.39 7 Thomas Cook 38 425 77.29 78 CityTravelbag Breaks 20 4 104 182 78.37 84.1 8 Mark Warner 6 54 77.31 8 Norwegian Cruise Line 6 64 54.69 8 Thomson 48 641 75.66 89 Thomas Cook 5 1,041109 76.15 83.1 9 Ski World 8 59 76.69 9 Fred Olsen Cruise Lines 3 39 53.85 9 First Choice 49 430 73.9 109 Lastminute.comDial A Flight.co.uk - 98 72 75.51 82.6 10 Airtours Holidays 18 26 75.96 10 Voyage of Discovery 7 21 53.57 11 Lastminute.com 14 302 82.0 11 Thomas Cook 10 39 73.08 11 Cunard Line 5 52 53.37 Total 3,081 84.3 12 TotalBritish Airways 1,582 80.1 12 Thomson 17 78 69.9 12 Carnival Cruise Lines 11 27 50.93 Holidays 6 123 80.7 13 Crystal Holidays 14 182 69.51 13 Swan Hellenic 2 25 50 Specialist operators 13 SpecialistGoing Places operators 13 289 80.0 14 Panorama 15 22 68.18 1 Rainbow Tours 1 89 98.03 141 InntravelBridge The World 13 46 61 89.67 79.5 15 First Choice 16 80 65 2 Laskarina Holidays 3 81 95.99 152 VFBOpodo Holidays 2 - 80 62 88.75 79.4 3 Tapestry Holidays 5 83 93.07 163 BrittanyMyTravel Ferries 16 - 59 52 84.75 79.3 Total 580 59.2 4 Exodus 12 145 90.52 174 VoyagesAirmiles TravelJules Verne 4 55 84.55 5 Saga Holidays 20 94 89.36 5 ShortCompany Breaks 126 67 72 82.84 79.2 Total 947 76.9 6 Canvas Holidays 7 73 89.04 186 STAThomson Travel 311 27152 82.69 78.8 7 Eurocamp 30 71 87.68 197 VirginLunn PolyHolidays 10 7 420 41 81.71 78.6 8 Voyages Jules Verne 26 165 86.36 208 FirstAer LingusChoice 10 15 266 89 81.46 78.2 9 Direct Holidays 43 75 82.67 219 SuperbreakEbookers 14 17 12982 80.79 74.8 10 Eurostar 40 90 82.22 1022 KLMAirtours Holidays 22 - 7578 80.33 70.8 11 STA Travel 22 115 82.17 11 AirTotal France 18 6,281 49 76.53 83.9 12 Inghams Travel 35 99 78.28 12 P&O Ferries 19 86 76.16 13 Cosmos Travel 50 72 76.04 14 Airtours Holidays 53 167 73.8 15 Mytravel 54 85 70.88 16 Crystal Holidays 46 96 69.27 Total 781 82.5

Airlines included where it is possible to book flights and accommodation

Total 1,600 84.1

Airlines included where it is possible to book flights and accommodation.

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Best short-haul airline Best long-haul airline

With its rapidly expanding network of cheap flights from UK regional For years this category has been dominated by just two carriers, airports, Jet2.com has made big in-roads into the no-frills market Singapore Airlines and Emirates, and this year is no exception. Virgin since it launched its first low-cost flight from Leeds Bradford to deserves credit too: up from eighth place two years ago to third. Amsterdam three years ago. It climbs from third place to take the title from Air Berlin.

rankings last year's coupons % score rankingsrankings last last year'syear's coupons coupons % % scorescore rankings rankingsrankings 1 Jet2.com 3 270 81.2 11 SingaporeTrailfinders Airlines 1 358 739 93.99 90.6 2 Aer Lingus 11 113 80.53 22 EmiratesSTA Travel 28 443945 89.45 88.6 3 Lufthansa 12 142 79.4 33 VirginFlight Centre 49919 194 85.66 86.9 4 British Airways 9 1214 77.66 44 AirExpedia.co.uk New Zealand 11 7 140365 84.11 86.4 5 BMI 13 1599 77.2 55 MalaysiaBath Travel Airlines 5 - 262 54 83.68 85.7 6 Flybe 17 229 76.53 66 CathayTravelcare Pacific 9 - 149507 82.72 85.4 7 KLM 20 225 76.33 77 ThaiAirline Airways Network 6 - 211 57 81.64 84.2 8 Thomsonfly 23 587 74.66 88 QantasTravelbag 10 4 421182 81.12 84.1 9 Easyjet 16 2553 73.1 99 SriLankanThomas Cook Airways 13 5 1,041 111 78.83 83.1 10 Monarch 24 408 69.98 1010 BritishDial A Flight.co.ukAirways 15 - 2095 72 78.17 82.6 11 Excel Airways 26 174 69.83 1111 KenyaLastminute.com Airways 1714 302 96 77.86 82.0 12 First Choice 28 213 68.9 1212 BritishKLM Airways 16 362 76.66 13 Thomas Cook 6 152 68.09 13 AirHolidays Canada 24 6 202 123 75.25 80.7 14 Ryanair 27 2001 64.24 1413 FirstGoing Choice Places 40 13 289136 72.43 80.0 15 Iberia 31 116 58.41 1514 BridgeSouth AfricanThe World Airways 25 3 151 61 72.19 79.5 16 MyTravel - 52 79.3 1615 AirOpodo France 29 - 174 62 69.97 79.4 1716 UnitedMyTravel Airlines 21 - 156 52 69.39 79.3 1817 ThomasAirmiles CookTravel 14 122 69.26 19 LufthansaCompany 18 12 127 72 69.09 79.2 Total 9,996 68.5 2018 ContinentalThomson Airlines 22 11 196 271 68.24 78.8 2119 AmericanLunn Poly Airlines 26 10 357420 66.95 78.6 2220 ThomsonFlyFirst Choice 34 15 266 99 63.89 78.2 2321 MonarchEbookers 41 17 214129 60.75 74.8 2422 MyTravelAirtours Holidays 39 - 11178 59.91 70.8 25 IberiaTotal 43 6,281 212 48.35 83.9

Total 7,824 74.4

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Best business airline Best ferry company Best train company Best car hire

Emirates and Virgin swap places at the top, while Easyjet is rising Speed Ferries, who operate fast boats between Dover and Boulogne, Proving that the British love affair with France is still going strong, This year’s winner is Carjet, an online car rental broker which has through the ranks as business travellers tighten their belts. only launched in May 2004, but have made it to the top, albeit by the the two top places are taken by Eurostar and Eurotunnel. Chiltern won praise for its upfront pricing policy, with no hidden extras, and slightest of margins. Railways is the best of the UK regional rail operators. user-friendly web booking system.

rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings rankings rankings rankings 1 Emirates 1 60 92.92 1 Speed Ferries - 151 84.93 1 Eurostar - 797 84.07 1 Carjet 3 80 86.56 2 Virgin 2 182 89.56 2 Swansea Cork Ferries 2 46 84.24 2 Eurotunnel 1 114 83.33 2 Enterprise Rent-A-Car 5 258 78.39 3 Lufthansa 3 66 84.85 3 North Sea Ferries 4 47 84.04 3 Chiltern Railways 5 192 78.39 3 Dollar Rent-A-Car 8 100 78.25 4 British Airways 5 1596 78.02 4 Caledonian Macbrayne - 146 81.85 4 GNER - 749 70.79 4 Alamo Rent A Car 11 375 78 5 BMI 4 267 77.15 5 Brittany Ferries 652 81.25 5 Midland Mainline 8 503 69.48 5 Thrifty Car Rental 6 106 77.59 6 KLM 8 148 73.14 6 DFDS Seaways 5 81 79.01 6 First Great Eastern 11 799 68.74 6 Holiday Autos 4 428 75.7 7 United Airlines 6 35 72.14 7 Norfolkline 7 99 78.79 7 First Scotrail 12 214 65.19 7 Sixt 7 105 74.52 8 Easyjet 10 372 71.77 8 Hoverspeed 11 71 78.17 8 Virgin Trains 15 2415 64.89 8 Hertz 13 1222 74.45 9 Flybe 7 76 69.74 9 Stena Line 3 278 76.71 9 South West Trains 18 786 62.25 9 Avis 9 1120 74.08 10 American Airlines 9 52 68.75 10 Wightlink 10 82 76.52 10 Southern 24 291 59.45 10 Auto Europe 1 90 73.89 11 Ryanair 11 124 62.9 11 Seacat 13 132 76.33 11 South Eastern Trains 23 291 59.45 11 Europcar 14 886 73.87 12 Seafrance 14 157 76.27 12 First Great Western 17 880 58.81 12 Budget 10 367 73.77 13 Red Funnel Ferries 15 67 76.12 13 London Underground 19 149 58.39 13 National Car Rental 12 152 73.52 14 Irish Ferries 8 161 74.22 14 First North Western 21 177 57.77 14 Easycar 15 148 69.09 Total 2,978 76.4 15 P&O Ferries 12 1072 72.5 15 Silverlink Trains 106 57.55 16 Condor Ferries 16 67 68.66 16 One 10 263 56.27 17 Central Trains 25 127 55.91 18 Thameslink 20 219 55.48 Total 5,437 75.8 19 Arriva 22 170 54.12 Total 3,348 78.1

Total 9,242 67.8

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Best UK hotel Best overseas hotel

The slow and steady expansion of the Hotel du Vin chain is obviously Four Seasons have ended Shangri-La’s three-year winning streak, not diluting the winning formula: it takes first prize for the third year edging them off the top spot. It's a close run thing again, but the 70 running. hotels in 31 countries that make up the Four Seasons chain have finally edged Shangri-la from the top spot after three consecutive years. Spain's Paradors are consistently popular, taking third again.

rankings last year's coupons % score rankingsrankings last last year'syear's coupons coupons % % scorescore rankings rankingsrankings 1 Hotel du Vin & Bistro 1 236 92.37 11 FourTrailfinders Seasons Hotels & Resorts 2 1 105739 95.48 90.6 2 City Inn 7 83 84.64 22 Shangri-LaSTA Travel Hotels and Resorts 81 945 131 94.66 88.6 3 Radisson Hotels & Resorts 12 208 83.05 33 ParadorsFlight Centre of Spain 39 19485 92.06 86.9 4 Malmaison 5 353 83 44 InterContinentalExpedia.co.uk Hotels 7 365 86.4 5 De Vere Hotels 6 156 82.69 5 &Bath Resorts Travel 8 - 114 54 91.67 85.7 6 Marriott 11 362 82.25 56 HyattTravelcare 4 - 128507 90.82 85.4 7 YHA 8 140 81.25 67 SofitelAirline Network 12 - 114 57 90.79 84.2 8 Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resorts 14 109 79.36 78 LeTravelbag Meridien 11 4 132182 90.34 84.1 9 Novotel 15 175 76.86 89 RenaissanceThomas Cook Hotels & Resorts 9 5 1,041 41 90.24 83.1 10 Hilton 16 641 76.13 109 SheratonDial A Flight.co.uk Hotels & Resorts 16 - 203 72 88.92 82.6 11 Copthorne Hotels 13 84 73.81 1011 WestinLastminute.com Hotels & Resorts 146 302 64 87.1182.0 12 Moat House Hotels 26 79 73.1 1112 CrowneBritish Airways Plaza Hotels & Resorts 13 128 86.33 13 Best Western 20 257 71.5 12 IberostarHolidays Hotels & Resorts 56123 57 85.96 80.7 14 Premier Travel Inn 18 313 71.25 1313 HiltonGoing Places 1513 455289 80.085.7 15 Holiday Inn 17 580 70.99 1414 MarriottBridge The World 8 3 296 61 85.22 79.5 16 Jurys Doyle Hotels 19 173 70.81 1515 LuxorOpodo Las Vegas 17 - 60 62 79.4 85 17 Thistle Hotels 21 281 70.46 1616 RadissonMyTravel Hotels & Resorts 14 - 239 52 84.52 79.3 18 Ibis 25 173 69.22 1717 JurysAirmiles Doyle Travel Hotels 23 50 84.5 19 Travelodge 29 656 67.49 18 YHACompany 22 12 132 72 82.77 79.2 20 Ramada Jarvis 24 91 66.76 1918 RamadaThomson Worldwide 27 11 27152 82.69 78.8 21 Comfort Inn 23 73 64.73 2019 GoldenLunn Poly Tulip Hotels 1810 420 46 81.52 78.6 22 Britannia Hotels 29 63 61.9 2021 NovotelFirst Choice 19 15 266143 81.29 78.2 2221 MercureEbookers21 17 12976 79.61 74.8 2322 HolidayAirtours Inn Holidays 20 - 280 78 78.57 70.8 24 CampanileTotal 28 6,281 45 75.56 83.9 Total 3,748 75.2 25 Best Western 24 251 74.9 26 Ibis 25 266 72.65 27 Comfort Inn 26 55 69.55

Total 4,138 84.8

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Favourite UK city Favourite overseas city Favourite European country Favourite long-haul country

Nothing it seems will loosen this city’s grip on the title. Yes, it’s The Aussies are out. After dominating the top two spots for the last The Scandinavian countries traditionally fare well in this category and New Zealand’s blend of scenery, food and wine take it back to the Edinburgh again for the seventh year running. Cambridge, Cardiff and few years, the country has been trumped by Hong Kong’s exotic this year is no exception, with Sweden winning on satisfaction rating, top. Japan, long feared for its high prices and indecipherable menus, Leeds make their top 10 debut while London limps home in 17th charms. Seville is the top-ranked European city, closely followed by but don’t overlook the massive number of votes, and impressively jumps ten places to second. position. Venice. high score for Italy.

rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings last year's coupons % score rankings rankings rankings rankings 1 Edinburgh 1 1462 89.88 1 Hong Kong 3 150 96.5 1 Sweden 4 147 92.69 1 New Zealand 3 525 97.29 2 Glasgow 5 558 86.29 2 Sydney 2 279 95.7 2 Italy 9 2123 91.33 2 Japan 12 181 97.1 3 Bath 7 616 85.71 3 Melbourne 18 123 95.53 3 Norway 7 173 91.33 3 Maldives 4 114 96.93 4 Newcastle upon Tyne 3 441 85.6 4 Cape Town 6 280 95.36 4 Switzerland 6 260 90.38 4 Australia 9 970 95.31 5 York 4 597 85.13 5 Seville 19 141 94.86 5 Austria 8 282 90.25 5 Malaysia 20 222 95.16 6 Cambridge 15 211 84.72 6 Venice 26 375 94.73 6 Poland - 158 90.19 6 Peru 10 144 95.14 7 Brighton and Hove 10 583 83.75 7 Buenos Aires 7 125 94 7 Czech Republic 10 430 89.94 7 South Africa 14 498 94.83 8 Chester 8 147 83.16 8 Berlin 30 269 93.68 8 Croatia 5 244 89.65 8 Cambodia 8 115 94.78 9 Cardiff 14 321 82.94 9 New York 13 530 93.58 9 Greece 17 837 89.58 9 Canada 16 592 94.68 10 Leeds 17 394 82.3 10 San Francisco 16 151 92.72 10 Germany 18 586 89.38 10 Thailand 13 465 94.68 11 Norwich 11 151 82.12 11 Barcelona 27 851 92.27 11 Portugal & Madeira 14 515 89.37 11 Vietnam 6 134 94.4 12 Manchester 13 666 81.94 12 Florence 43 189 92.06 12 Republic of Ireland - 205 88.78 12 Argentina 7 156 94.07 13 Belfast 2 147 81.46 13 Bruges 32 136 91.54 13 Spain & Canaries 20 2511 87.68 13 Brazil 21 176 93.47 14 Oxford 20 313 81.39 14 Prague 23 412 91.44 14 France & Corsica 21 2703 87.29 14 China & Hong Kong 31 361 92.45 15 Bristol 18 414 81.04 15 Bangkok - 269 91.36 15 Turkey 11 325 87.23 15 Sri Lanka 15 193 92.36 16 Liverpool 19 313 80.83 16 Rome 37 463 91.31 16 Netherlands 19 279 86.65 16 India 29 682 92.27 17 London 23 2680 79.61 17 Lisbon 36 130 90.96 17 Hungary 13 233 86.37 17 Kenya 26 139 91.01 18 Birmingham 24 419 77.98 18 Madrid 44 181 90.88 18 Belgium 23 302 86.18 18 Barbados 30 120 90.21 19 Nottingham 29 146 73.97 19 Budapest 42 232 90.84 19 Cyprus 22 164 82.77 19 Mexico 28 176 90.2 20 Amsterdam 50 384 88.8 20 Cuba 17 272 89.71 21 Marrakech 59 173 88.73 21 Dubai & UAE 34 137 87.59 22 Paris 58 874 88.7 22 USA 36 2152 87.48 Total 10,579 82.6 23 Dublin 56 224 87.28 Total 12,477 88.8 23 Egypt 35 316 87.18 24 Brussels 67 161 86.02 24 Morocco 33 149 86.74

Total 7,102 92.0 Total 8,989 92.7

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Ethical travel award

Winner: Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa www.fairtourismsa.org.za Highly commended: Sustrans, Jordan's Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Harlem Spirituals Gospel and Jazz Tours (New York)

The inaugural winner of this award is Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa, a non-profit organisation that is bringing the concept of fair trade into tourism. It vets South African travel businesses and provides a trademark label for those that pass its stringent conditions for providing fair wages and working conditions for employees. It has so far recognised 21 ethical companies, including a Country Lodge on the Garden Route, a five-star Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park and an adventure travel company in the Eastern Cape. What the judges like about this scheme is that it is the first attempt worldwide to introduce the concept of fair trade in tourism and to provide a benchmark for customers to judge the ethical standards of travel companies. Highly commended by the judges was Feynan Wilderness Lodge and Dana Guesthouse and Nature Reserve, which are managed by Jordan's Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature to help promote the country's natural heritage as well as provide local employment for the Bedouin, linking conservation and ecotourism. These ventures deserve particular merit in a region where international chain hotels are the norm. Also commended was Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, which over the past decade has completed 10,000 miles of the National Cycle Network. Less obvious, perhaps, is Harlem Spirituals Gospel and Jazz Tours. For the past 20 years, this group has been leading tours that capture the flavour and excitement of Harlem through its music. As such, they've been integral to the regeneration of a neighbourhood that was long considered a no-go zone for tourists and many city residents alike.

Judges: Joanne O’Connor, travel editor, The Observer; Andy Pietrasik, travel editor, the Guardian; Richard Hammond, the Guardian’s eco travel columnist and editor of Alastair Sawday's Green Places to Stay and Tom Hall, travel information manager, Lonely Planet

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Best brochure of the year Best travel website of the year

Winner: Exclusive Escapes, Hidden Turkey Winner: Black Tomato www.blacktomato.co.uk Runner up: Original Travel

This year’s competition was a close-run thing but the judges Our best website winner is Black Tomato felt that Exclusive Escapes had the edge because it (www.blacktomato.co.uk) the relative newcomer specialising succeeded in taking a destination which is normally in experience-led short breaks. associated with cheap package holidays and presented it as an aspirational, luxury product. The brochure makes the Our judges particularly liked their innovative website design reader question their preconceptions about Turkey and is and use of pulldown menus to display a huge range of trips at inspirational and practical in equal measures. a single click. We were impressed by the panic button feature allowing last-minute advice and tailor-made bookings. The front cover image is inviting and sets the tone for what is Although the product is high-end in terms of cost, it is well a high quality production, from the quality of the paper to the tailored to its market and the responds to well popularity of outstanding photography. short breaks and adrenalin experiences. On a practical level, the layout is airy and easy to use. We particularly liked the fact that you don’t have to turn to the Our design team also commended www.explore.co.uk for back of the brochure or to a separate price pamphlet to find being clean, colourful and easy to navigate while out what your holiday will cost. If the purpose of a brochure is www.inntravel.com, www.theadventurecompany.co.uk and to make you want to book a holiday then Exclusive Escapes www.discover-antarctica.com were among those shortlisted. succeeds. Last year’s winner Original Travel is still an attractive proposition with its innovative and stylish design (now being copied by other tour operators, we noticed) and neat compact size which make it stand out from the rest of the crowd. However, we did notice that it seems to have shrunk since last year which inevitably means that they have had to cut back on some of the trip information. A good example of a company which knows its customers and gives them exactly what they want.

Judges: Joanne O’Connor, travel editor, The Observer; Tom Judges: Akemi Takagi, senior designer, Guardian Unlimited, Robbins, deputy travel editor, The Observer; Andy Pietrasik, Liane Katz, travel editor, Guardian Unlimited, Joanne travel editor, The Guardian; Rachel Beard, production O’Connor, travel editor, The Observer; Andy Pietrasik, assistant, Guardian Unlimited Travel; Tom Hall, travel travel editor, The Guardian. information manager, Lonely Planet

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Team Contacts

Editorial

The Guardian 020 7713 4411 The Observer 020 7713 4068 Guardian Unlimited 020 7713 4328

Advertising

Display London 020 7239 9551 Manchester 0161 908 3823 Edinburgh 0131 272 2751

Classified 020 7611 9010

Guardian.co.uk/travel Guardian.co.uk/adinfo

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