Over 225,000 votes were cast – 60% more than last year, setting a new record – in this year’s Silver Travel Awards as, in these unprecedented times, older travellers sought to show their appreciation of the travel companies, cruise lines and destinations that have delivered the very best for the over 50s in the last 12 months.
Many things have had to adapt to new circumstances this year, the Silver Travel Awards included. For the first time, the Awards were virtual, with the worthy winners announced to viewers at an online ceremony broadcast on Tuesday 15 September to an audience of hundreds of travel industry colleagues and Silver Travel Advisor members.
With the inimitable Gyles Brandreth on fine form as the witty Master Of Ceremonies and the action actually taking place in the Wallace Collection, home to The Laughing Cavalier among many outstanding artworks, the spirit of the Silver Travel Awards was still very much to the fore.
Watch the video now!
Watch the full length feature (30 minutes)
Watch the edited highlights (3 minutes)
Our Sponsors
Now in their sixth year, the Silver Travel Awards were supported by gold sponsors Avis, silver sponsors Emerald Waterways, Travelzoo and Just You, Bronze sponsors HF Holidays and Singapore Tourism, Category Sponsors Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and World of Cruising Magazine, consumer media sponsors The Mail on Sunday, Daily Mail and Mail Online, travel trade sponsor Travel Weekly and music partner Classic FM. Read about all of our sponsors.
We’d like to and add our congratulations to all the winning and highly commended companies in what was a closely-fought contest in many of the 22 main categories. In addition, a panel of travel industry judges adjudicated on three Silver-i Awards for innovation.
Very well done to all the companies that really went the extra mile for older travellers this year!
And the winners are …
BEST ADVENTURE OR ACTIVITY TOUR OPERATOR
Winner: HF Holidays
Highly Commended: Inghams Lakes & Mountains and Ramblers Walking Holidays
BEST CULTURAL TOUR OPERATOR
Winner: Titan Travel
Highly Commended: Jules Verne and Travel Editions
BEST CITY BREAKS OPERATOR
Winner: Riviera Travel
Highly Commended: Saga Holidays and Kirker Holidays
BEST SELF‑CATERING TRAVEL COMPANY
Winner: Eurocamp
Highly Commended: Forest Holidays and Holiday Property Bond
BEST VILLA HOLIDAY COMPANY
Winner: Villa Plus
Highly Commended: Sunvil and Simpson Travel
BEST DESTINATION SPECIALIST COMPANY
Winner: Wendy Wu Tours
Highly Commended: Frontier Travel and Serenity Holidays
BEST OCEAN CRUISE LINE
Winner: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Highly Commended: Saga Cruises and NCL
BEST PREMIUM OR LUXURY CRUISE LINE
Winner: Princess Cruises
Highly Commended: Celebrity Cruises and Silversea
BEST SPECIALIST CRUISE LINE
Winner: Hurtigruten
Highly Commended: Hebridean Island Cruises and Noble Caledonia
BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE
Winner: Riviera Travel
Highly Commended: Emerald Waterways and Titan Travel
BEST LUXURY RIVER CRUISE LINE
Winner: Viking
Highly Commended: Scenic and Avalon Waterways
BEST ESCORTED COACH TOUR OPERATOR
Winner: Saga Holidays
Highly Commended: Titan Travel and Riviera Travel
BEST LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR
Winner: Cox & Kings
Highly Commended: Scenic and First Class Holidays
BEST RAIL HOLIDAY COMPANY
Winner: Great Rail Journeys
Highly Commended: Ffestiniog Travel and Railbookers
BEST ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROVIDER
Winner: Enable Holidays
Highly Commended: Saga Holidays and Limitless Travel
BEST CAR RENTAL COMPANY
Winner: Avis
Highly Commended: Enterprise and Hertz
BEST UK BREAKS OPERATOR
Winner: Warner Leisure Hotels
Highly Commended: HF Holidays and Alfa Travel
BEST OPERATOR FOR THE SINGLE TRAVELLER
Winner: Solos Holidays
Highly Commended: Just You and One Traveller
BEST TRAVEL DEALS WEBSITE
Winner: Travelzoo
Highly Commended: Expedia and Secret Escapes
BEST UK TOWN OR CITY
Winner: York
Highly commended: Edinburgh and Bournemouth
BEST OVERSEAS DESTINATION
Winner: Italy
Highly Commended: New Zealand and Canada
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
Winner: Hays Travel
Highly Commended: TUI and Trailfinders
THE SILVER-i BREAKTHROUGH AWARD FOR PRODUCT INNOVATION
Winner: Viking
Highly commended: Revitalise, Emerald Yacht Cruises
THE SILVER-i FOOTPRINT AWARD FOR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Joint winners: APT Travel Group, Hurtigruten
Highly commended: Celebrity Cruises
THE SILVER-i PAPER AWARD FOR THE BEST TRAVEL ADVERISEMENT IN PRINT
Winner: Ramblers Walking Holidays
Highly commended: Silversea, Leger Holidays (by Accord Marketing)
Read more about the Silver-i award winners and the judging panels.
