Travolution Awards 2021: Resilience during the pandemic shines through

Winners of 34 awards revealed at the annual ceremony in London

The resilience, creativity and tenacity of the digital travel and technology sector was honoured last night at the 2021 Travolution Awards ceremony held in London.

The awards returned as in-person event last year having been forced to go virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Go the awards website for the full list of winners. 

This year a special Above and Beyond category of five awards was created to reflect the challenges of the pandemic and how firms have sought to adapt to survive.

Gallery: The Travolution Awards 2021

Insurance supplier battleface and PR firm LOTUS scooped the Best PR Communications award, OTA On The Beach was named Best Employer, Consumer Champion was Travelzoo and Best Customer Innovation went to Whoosh and Ordamo.

London-based Short-term rentals firm Under The Doormat took home the Best Pandemic Pivot award for its initiative to offer NHS workers free stays during the pandemic.

The evening saw the big individual honour go to Greg Webb for his  more than two decades in the travel technology sector with Sabre, and most recently with Travelport.

During the pandemic Travelport, the UK’s leading GDS, has launched its next generation Travelport+ platform and undergone a radical rebrand under the slogan Change Is For The Brave.

The campaign to launch the new branding was highly commended in the Best Use of Social Media award coming a close second to The Points Guy for its use of Instagram Live.

Deals specialist Travelzoo added to its Consumer Champion Award by also taking home the Best For Travel Deals trophy and was named Brand of the Year in recognition of its response to the COVID crisis both with its consumers and trade partners.

Other multiple winners included Forest Holidays which won the Champions of Design, Best for Domestic and Best Technology Team awards and Ocean Holidays which was named Rising Brand of the Year as well as wining the Champions of Data and Best CRM awards.

Much Better Adventures won the in the Best Travel Agent and Best Use of Search categories, and it was a good night for easyJet Holidays which ws named Best Tour Operator and won the Best Technology Project award with bd4travel and web merchandising director Tobie Bowdler was named Rising Star.

Recently launched holiday money cashback card supplier CannyApp came out top in a competitive Best Start-up category.

Lee Hayhurst, Travolution executive editor, said: “After such a challenging period we’re delighted that we were able to get our finalists together in a room to celebrate the incredible talent that exists in the travel and technology sectors.

“This year won’t be looked back on with any great fondness, so our 2021 awards was the perfect opportunity to start to look ahead to what everyone hopes will be a brighter, more dynamic and innovative future for travel from 2022 and beyond.

“It’s hard not to be impressed by just how the sector has reacted to diversity and found ways to survive, and in many cases thrive, during the most difficult period the sector has ever faced.

“Thanks to everyone who entered, and every one of our judges who helped us to whittle down the contenders into shortlists and, ultimately, winners. Congratulations to all.”

Garry Wilson, chief executive of easyJet holidays, said: “I’m beyond proud to have taken home three accolades at the Travolution awards last night with Best Tour Operator website, Best Technology Project and the Rising Star going to one of our own.

“It’s testament to the incredible team we have in place and all that we’ve achieved together since we launched.”