The 31st Northern Ireland Travel & Tourism Awards Launches at the Big Travel Trade Event 2023

8 June 2023

The 31st Northern Ireland Travel & Tourism Awards have been launched and voting is OPEN NOW!

This years Awards will include a new, exciting category sponsor and changes has also been made to some of the categories.

Reflecting on the changing market, the changes include some existing categories being dropped and the introduction of a new Cruise award, and some changes to the voting criteria to help when selecting you choice.

The Awards are only made possible with the continued support of the generous sponsors. Stena Line, Travel Solutions, Palladium Hotel Group, Silversea Cruises, British Airways are all returning as category sponsors for this year with the introduction of Yalago, our brand new category sponsor.

Jet2holidays will once again sponsor the evening’s entertainment programme while Dublin Airport will again be rolling out the green carpet as they host the welcome reception. Tourism Ireland are returning as hospitality sponsors.

Nominate your top Tourist Attraction, Visitor Information Centre, Travel Consultant and Travel Agents and you could win one of four great short break hotel/accommodation prizes.

The prizes on offer include an overnight stay in one of four top hotels across the Province – the Slieve Donard Hotel, the Dunadry Hotel & Gardens, Me & Mrs Jones, Portstewart and the Old Inn, Crawfordsburn.

Revealing that this years Awards will take place on the Friday 13th October at the newly refurbished Slieve Donard Hotel, Jonathan Adair of NI Travel News, organisers of the Awards said: “I am delighted to announce, new for 2023, our new category sponsor Yalago. This year we are also pleased to announce that we have some important changes to the categories and the voting criteria and systems.

“This year we have decided that there will no longer be a Travel Insurance category while the award for Best Destination will return to Best Tourist Board. Following consultation with senior industry experts we have also decided to add a new cruise category which will better reflect all areas of cruising. Best Premium Cruise Company will be added as a category meaning we will now have four cruise categories – Best River Cruise Company, Best Luxury Cruise Company, Best Premium Cruise Company and Best Mainstream Cruise Company.

“We have also made some changes to the Travel Consultant of the Year with entries now only accepted up to Assistant Manager level. Owner and Manager entries will no longer be accepted moving forward.

“I would like to thank all the local travel industry members who have contributed to the improved trade categories for 2023 and I look forward to seeing you all at the awards gala.”

Voting is now open on the NI Travel News website – www.nitravelnews.com and will also be available in the June edition of Northern Ireland Travel News.

Voting will close on September 23 for all categories except the Travel Consultant of the Year and Travel Agent of the Year which will close on September 15. Voting is open to both the trade and the public in different categories.

Contact Nora Hanna at the Slieve Donard to book your room now – nhanna@slievedonard.co.uk

Tables of 10 are available to book now – contact Chelsea@nitravelnews.com.

VOTE NOW!

The full list of Awards for the 2023 NI Travel and Tourism Awards in Association are:

Category 1 Sponsored by Stena Line