Travolution launches consumer awards with Teletext backing

This year’s Travolution Awards will feature consumer voted categories for the first time after Teletext Holidays signed up as headline sponsor

This year’s Travolution Awards will feature categories voted for by consumers for the first time after Teletext Holidays signed up as headline sponsor.


Around a million Teletext and parent company Associated Newspapers customers will be asked to vote on five consumer categories, mirroring categories in the main awards for websites in the airline, hotel, car hire, cruise and tickets, attractions and excursions sectors.


In addition two new awards, one for the best travel blog, travelogue or videologue and one for consumers to vote for their favourite travel innovation have been created.


Now in its fourth year, it is the first time the Travolution Awards have included consumer categories reflecting the growing presence and importance of the online travel sector for all parts of the industry.


The event, that will take place on September 28, also has a new venue: Battersea Power Station.


The iconic south London venue has been chosen specifically to reflect the fact that the Travolution Award’s are not a conventional travel industry awards ceremony and with the venue on the cusp of redevelopment it is also very much looking towards the future.


Victoria Sanders, Teletext Holidays managing director, said: “Travolution has evolved to be an influential force in travel and the awards will recognise innovation and cutting-edge technology.


“This year will see the first consumer-voted awards and we are excited to be working together on this. Our customers will vote for the online businesses they rate most highly in terms of usability and design.”


Simon Ferguson, TWgroup chief executive, said: “We’re thrilled Teletext has come onboard as headline sponsor of the 2010 Travolution Awards and will help us take the awards to the consumer for the first time.


“Since they were created the awards have always sought to honour the most ground breaking, imaginative and effective innovations in the travel industry and this year we expect the competition to be as fierce as ever.


“We’re sure our new venue in one of London’s most iconic venues will be a real hit and will make sure for those who attend, even if they don’t win, it will be a truly memorable evening.”


There are 22 trade awards in marketing, technology, travel portal, agent and operator and supplier categories plus the Travel Pioneer Award for the person or business considered to have been the most innovative in the last year.


Finally there are three Ones to Watch awards for Rising Star of the Year, Rising Brand of the Year and Brand of the Year and the Travolution Achievement of the Year award.


Entries close on June 4 after which shortlists will be compiled by the Travolution team and a panel of esteemed industry judges will be asked to decide who the winners are.