The shortlists have been unveiled for the 2017 Silver Travel Awards, which will celebrate the best travel companies, experiences and destinations for the over-50s market, at a reception to be held at Madame Tussauds in London on Thursday 8 June, hosted by Classic FM presenter, Aled Jones, of ‘Walking in the Air’ fame.
Now in their third year, and supported by headline sponsor Saga Holidays, consumer media sponsor Mail Newspapers and Classic FM, the Awards have been expanded to a total of 17 main categories and have been voted for by more people than ever, with over 55,000 votes being cast.
Debbie Marshall, managing director of Silver Travel Advisor, said: “We are excited that a record number of over 50s have voted this year to create these new shortlists which recognise the holiday companies and experiences that serve them best.
The shortlisted companies are diverse but all share one common feature – the ability to listen to older travellers and respond to them with flair and imagination.”
The shortlists for the 17 main awards are:
Best Ocean Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Saga Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises, Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
Best River Cruise Line
Riviera Travel, Uniworld, Emerald Waterways, Viking River Cruises, Scenic, Shearings Holidays.
Best Specialist Cruise Line
Hurtigruten, Holland America Line, Silversea Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Noble Caledonia, Azamara Club Cruises
Best Large Tour Operator
Shearings Holidays, Kuoni, Saga Holidays, Riviera Travel, Thomson Holidays, Thomas Cook
Best Activity Tour Operator
Explore, HF Holidays, Ramblers Walking Holidays, Exodus, Shearings Holidays, Saga Holidays
Best City Breaks Operator
Cresta, Jules Verne, Riviera Travel, Superbreak, Shearings Holidays, Kirker Holidays
Best UK Breaks Operator
HF Holidays, Superbreak, Grand UK Holidays, Newmarket Holidays, Warner Leisure Hotels, Shearings Holidays
Best Escorted Touring Operator (UK Tours)
Trafalgar, Grand UK Holidays, Saga Holidays, Shearings Holidays, Titan Travel, Travelsphere
Best Escorted Touring Operator (Europe and Long-Haul Tours)
Titan Travel, Riviera Travel, Wendy Wu Tours, Jules Verne, Shearings Holidays, Saga Holidays
Best Cultural Tour Operator
Wendy Wu Tours, Jules Verne, Shearings Holidays, Riviera Travel, Saga Holidays, Cox & Kings
Best Self-Catering Accommodation
National Trust, AirBnB, Haven Holidays, Forest Holidays, Hoseasons, Center Parcs
Best Car Rental Company
Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Budget
Best Rail Holiday Provider
Rail Discoveries, Railbookers, Belmond Orient Express, Great Rail Journeys, Rocky Mountaineer, Rail Trail
Best Airline
Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Jet 2, Emirates, easyJet, Singapore Airlines
Best Accessible Travel Provider
Shearings Holidays, Can Be Done, Riviera Travel, Access Travel, Enable Holidays, Saga Holidays
Best Overseas Destination
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, Italy, USA
Best Operator for the Single traveller
Jules Verne, Just You, Solos Holidays, Saga Holidays, Shearings Holidays, Riviera Travel
