Arabian Travel News will launch its inaugural awards programme this year in a bid to recognise the unsung heroes of the Middle East’s travel agency community.
The first awards of their kind, the Arabian Travel News Awards 2010, are designed to recognise the efforts of a wide range of travel industry professionals, from frontline staff and agency managers to those who work behind the scenes such as accountants and IT gurus.
The programme kicks of in the next few months, with either agents or their colleagues or managers invited to make their nominations online at www.hoteliermiddleast.com/atnawards where they will be required to provide information relating to a strict set of criteria.
Nominations will close on April 4, 2010, in time for the shortlist in each of the 12 categories to be created.
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The shortlisted candidates will then be judged by an expert panel of professionals from a broad spectrum of travel-related industries.
The names of the panelists will be announced at a later date. ATN senior group editor Gemma Greenwood said the awards celebrated excellence in the Middle East’s travel agency community: “These awards recognise the efforts of true professionals who are passionate about the industry and the service they provide to both customers and their fellow colleagues,” she said.
“From the frontline staff who constantly strive to improve their product knowledge and upgrade their customer service skills to the agency manager who has to ensure he hits his targets while keeping his workforce up-to-speed, motivated and inspired, these awards will leave no stone unturned.
“We will also reward the back-office staff who keep the travel agency business running smoothly — the IT gurus who know their GDS from their CRM; the HR and training managers who keep agent careers on track, not to mention the number crunchers who chase up client accounts and commission payments.”
Greenwood said the winners would be those who had demonstrated a willingness to go that extra mile, whether they were staying late to complete a complicated client holiday package, or lobbying suppliers in a bid to improve travel agency terms for the benefit of all.
The awards programme will culminate in a gala dinner to be staged on May 6 in Dubai at a venue to be confirmed. This date purposely coincides with the last trade day of Arabian Travel Market, which is also the event’s Travel Agents’ Day where ATN runs a passport scheme and other agent initiatives.
Sponsorship
The Arabian Travel News Awards brings together the cream of the region’s travel agency community. As such, it is an ideal place for suppliers and service providers to promote their brand, meet potential customers and entertain existing clients.
To ensure sponsors get the maximum return from their investment, sponsorship opportunities are limited. For more details on sponsorship packages visit the awards website at www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/atnawards or email diarmuid.omalley@itp.com
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Branch manager of the year
Leisure travel agency manager of the year
Leisure sales agent of the year
Corporate travel agency manager of the year
Corporate sales agent of the year
Travel management company
CEO/MD of the year
HR/training manager of the year
IT manager of the year
Finance manager of the year
Marketing person of the year
Agent newcomer of the year
Lifetime achievement award
ARABIAN TRAVEL NEWS AWARDS 2010
When: Thursday May 6, 2010
Where: Dubai — venue TBC
Who can apply: any travel agency staff member working in the Middle East
How to enter: visit www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/atnawards
For more information: email annie.chinoy@itp.com
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