Boroughbridge-based Spear Travels has just won their 5th consecutive British Travel Award, this time for ‘Best Independent Travel Agent in the UK’ beating off far larger rivals. The British Travel Awards are the only industry awards voted for by the general public and Spear’s latest success has set a record for winning this award 5 years running. The awards are voted for by 2 million members of the public and are sponsored by the Daily Mirror.
Spear Travels is based in Boroughbridge with thirteen branches across the UK from Yorkshire to Dorset. Led by husband and wife team, Peter and Libby Cookson and Stoke-based Derek Adams, Spear has a 36 year history, with Peter Cookson at the helm since 2007. The company also operates a business travel business based in the Midlands and a nationwide network of home-based travel consultants, giving the company coverage right across the UK.
Peter Cookson commented:
These awards mean everything to us as they are voted for by our customers and other members of the general public. When we won our first ‘British Travel Award’ in 2014 for ‘Best Customer Service’ we were over the moon, and here we are, 5 years later having won 5 in a row. We cannot thank our customers enough.
As an independent travel group, Spear’s strength is being able to offer holidays from the largest range of travel companies rather than being tied to specific tour operators. The company specialises in tailor-made holidays and long-haul travel but offers the complete range from family holidays, ski, cruise, adventure and short breaks. The company has also recently won an award for adventure holidays and is shortlisted in two categories at the upcoming Travel Trade Gazette Top 50 awards – for luxury travel and for weddings and honeymoons.
Peter Cookson added:
Our consultants are very knowledgeable as we take advantage of opportunities to see resorts and destinations for ourselves. Our consultants travelled to 40 destinations last year alone including Vietnam, Peru, India, Mauritius and the USA. We take our responsibilities for ensuring our clients have the best possible holiday experience very seriously. Service and experience are key to our business and we are proud that a number of our branches have won travel trade and local business awards in their own right, including our Skipton and Stokesley branches.
Despite uncertainty of Brexit, we achieved our best ever results in 2018 and the signs for 2019 suggest that this year will continue this success. Holidays and foreign travel are still at the top of most people’s wish-lists.
