Last Monday evening it was time for the Grand Travel Award 2018 at Hotel At Six in Stockholm. The venue was absolutely packed and the atmosphere was really on top when, after a moment of mingling, it was time to present the award winners on stage. We were of course there and we could see that this year there was a great focus on sustainability when the travel industry's most prestigious award was to be awarded.
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Festive gala
At around 18:00, the Hotel At Six on Brunkebergstorg was filled with people from the travel industry dressed in festive attire and holding a glass of white wine, and the anticipation was of course high. The Grand Travel Award is the travel industry's big prize, where the winners are chosen by a jury and by the ratings of travel agency employees. All nominees were of course hoping to win when Henrik Hjelt jumped up on stage to start the award ceremony.
Focus on sustainability
For the first time, a special sustainability award was presented at the gala. The award was won by Nordic Choice Hotels, which spoke about its core values of "People, planet & profit", with profit coming last in the chain. Celebrity chef Tommy Myllymäki presented the award and also talked about how he thinks about sustainability when it comes to food in the travel industry, using seasonal ingredients and reducing food waste.
But the sustainability talk didn't stop there, it permeated the entire award ceremony. For example, car hire company Herz talked about electric cars and the link between sustainability and success was mentioned several times.
This year's winners
Ving, Nordic Choice Hotels and SAS were among the winners. The most unexpected winner of the evening appeared when it was time to reveal the destination of the year. The "destination" itself could not accept the prize, so Henrik Hjelt wondered if there might be someone in the audience with a connection to South Africa.
After a moment's hesitation, a man came on stage and said that he runs a hostel in Cape TownAnd just like that, he got to symbolise South Africa and receive a diploma and bubbles! Here is the list of this year's winners:
- Best tour operator: Ving
- Best hotel chain Sweden: Nordic Choice Hotels
- Best hotel chain internationally: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
- Best individual hotels in Sweden: Haymarket by Scandic
- Best domestic transport: SAS
- Best domestic airlines: SAS
- Best intercontinental airlines: Emirates
- Best car hire companies: Heart
- Best shipping company: Birka Cruises
- Best cruise line internationally: Royal Caribbean International
- Travel industry leader of the year: Tommy Swanson, Swanson's Travel
- Travel agent of the year: Daniel Söderström, Resia
- Service & support award of the yearKatrin Forss, Air France-KLM and Mats Agerin, Ving.
- Sustainability award of the year: Nordic Choice Hotels
- Destination of the year: South Africa
- Ecotourism award of the year: Mörrums Kronolaxfiske
Dinner and party at the Grand Travel Award 2018
After the award ceremony, it was time for mingling, food and bubbly. We both had time to hang out with our travel blog colleague Lina from Liniz Travel & Lifestyleand mingle with new and old acquaintances in the travel industry. A very nice evening!
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Lena - good for the soul says:
It seems to have been a nice evening! I'm glad South Africa won. A bit unexpected I feel.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Hug Lena
14 February 2018 - 6:17
Helena says:
South Africa has a lot to offer I guess, but we have never been there. Also wish you a nice Valentine's Day Lena!
14 February 2018 - 12:59
Marina says:
It certainly seems to have been a pleasant evening.
14 February 2018 - 7:20
Helena says:
It's nice to have a bit of bubbly and glamour from time to time.
14 February 2018 - 13:00
Petra says:
Such a shame we missed this event this year. You look like you had a great time 😉.
/Petra
14 February 2018 - 7:30
Helena says:
Too bad you were not there Petra! See you soon in some other context, I hope! 🙂
14 February 2018 - 13:00
Ama de casa says:
That looked nice 🙂
Have a great Valentine's Day!
14 February 2018 - 9:53
Helena says:
Thank you!!!
14 February 2018 - 13:03
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Mörrums Kronolaxfiske this I liked. Have read somewhere that they must be phased out there is no money. So this can help people to wake up.
14 February 2018 - 10:38
Helena says:
We hope that things will get better for them! At the gala, it sounded like they had future plans! 🙂
14 February 2018 - 13:04
Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:
What a lovely evening it looked like! Good idea to let someone in the audience with a connection receive South Africa's prize. 🙂 Nice pictures of you and Lina!
14 February 2018 - 11:40
Helena says:
It was a bit funny when the hostel owner came up on stage 🙂 .
14 February 2018 - 13:05
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
What a wonderful evening and it's great that South Africa was honoured as a travel destination.
We were so pleasantly surprised when we spent three weeks travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town a couple of years ago. That country had it all, animals, nature, culture and great people!
14 February 2018 - 16:33
Helena says:
I can imagine that South Africa has a lot to offer! Sounds like a very interesting destination!
14 February 2018 - 21:35
Steve Ericsson says:
Festive event. You're pretty seasoned gala-goers by now.
Sustainability thinking is commendable. It is something that should permeate most industries today.
Hope you had/have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
14 February 2018 - 17:20
Helena says:
I actually think that sustainability thinking is coming more and more. Large companies almost HAVE to have that mindset, and it feels a bit promising for the future!
14 February 2018 - 21:35
Goatfish says:
Funny, the South Africa thing, unexpectedly spontaneous! 😀
Fun festive event! Have a nice Alla ?dag!
14 February 2018 - 18:33
Helena says:
Yes haha, always fun with a little unexpected spontaneous events at such events 🙂 .
14 February 2018 - 21:36
Ditte says:
Nice to be there. I had an invitation but am in Spain and enjoy reading your post.
For me, South Africa was not unexpected given all the interest and people travelling there. It's also at the top of our list.
And Nordic Choice, Birka, and SAS also felt quite self-evident - they work a lot with and for the environment.
It's fun for everyone who received an award and it's an incentive.
14 February 2018 - 18:59
Helena says:
Of course, you hear a lot about South Africa, and I have heard almost only positive things! Have a great time in Spain!
14 February 2018 - 21:37
BP says:
The biggest surprises for me were SAS, which must have really tightened up in recent years, and Birka Cruises.
Great fun with Haymarket and the destination South Africa. No surprises there.
And you thoroughly enjoyed the mingling, I understand:-)
14 February 2018 - 20:43
Helena says:
SAS has probably improved in many ways, but we are still waiting for the WiFi that they promised for a long time, and still promise 😉.
14 February 2018 - 21:38
Liniz Travel says:
So much fun to meet you! Hope to see you again soon! Nice weekend! Hugs
15 February 2018 - 7:26
Helena says:
Likewise Lina! We will surely see you soon in some context! Have fun! Hugs
15 February 2018 - 20:04
åsa in åsele says:
Festive event and nice to be with you 🙂 .
Have you been to South Africa?
An interesting country with a lot of history.
Just a bit far away 😉
I would love to visit South Africa...
15 February 2018 - 14:02
Helena says:
No, we haven't been to South Africa unfortunately... Would love to travel there! Seems like a very interesting country!
15 February 2018 - 20:05