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Travel Counsellors presented with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the third time

We were delighted to attend a presentation of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise last month, welcoming the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester to a ‘virtual’ recording with our CEO Steve Byrne.

The prestigious, yet socially-distanced meeting, marked the third time that we’ve won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, and the second time we’ve won the accolade in the International Trade category for excellence in ‘outstanding continuous growth’.

The formal presentation of the award was provided by Sir Warren Smith, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, who is appointed as Her Majesty The Queen’s representative in the region.

As part of his presentation, Sir Warren confirmed that Travel Counsellors was one of 220 organisations in the UK to be recognised with the award in 2020, and is amongst only six others in the Greater Manchester area to feature in the list, with all winners being personally approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

Watch Sir Warren’s formal presentation of the 2020 Queen’s Award for Enterprise to Travel Counsellors here.

Sir Warren revealed more about how the Queen’s Awards came to be, telling us that winners encapsulate the very meaning of the word ‘teamwork’, demonstrate outstanding achievement, and declared that Travel Counsellors is as an ‘exceptional organisation to have won three such awards’.

After making his official presentation of the Queen’s Award, Sir Warren took the time to tell Steve more about his role as Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, and how the position has been in existence for over 500 years.

With responsibilities including facilitating royal visits to the region, offering support and patronage to charities and highlighting volunteer work, to name but a few, Sir Warren also takes a particular interest in mental health matters, supporting the work of up to 40 charities as part of his role.

The Queen’s Award win also forms part of an ‘award-winning year’ for Travel Counsellors, after being named ‘Best National Travel Retailer’ in the 2020 British Travel Awards as voted for by customers and topping three MoneySavingExpert polls listing travel companies that have looked after customers throughout the pandemic.

Joining a select roll call of UK companies to win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise three times in its history, Travel Counsellors CEO, Steve Byrne, says, “We’re so proud and delighted to win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. It is the ultimate business accolade, and testament to how far the company has come in building a global community of like-minded travel entrepreneurs who, alongside our support team based across four continents, share the same passion for customer care and providing a uniquely personal travel service in both leisure and corporate sectors.

“As a people-focussed business first and foremost, this award is truly down to our people, and the hard work, passion and dedication colleagues and business owners have shown over the last 12 months, showing true care for their customers, and each other.”

“With travellers across the globe increasingly seeking and appreciating the benefit and assurance of real, human, expert advice and guidance through these uncertain times, the true value of relying on an experienced, trusted travel professional shines through. We are looking forward to the future with optimism, and to the time when people can continue to explore the world again and do so in the most sustainable ways possible.”

Now in its 54th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country.

Travel Counsellors have won more award from independent awarding bodies than any other travel franchise, so if you’re looking to start a travel business, why go anywhere else?