Last Thursday it was time for the Grand Travel Award 2025 - the travel industry's big "Oscars". The event, organised by the industry magazine TravelNews, took place at the Grand Hôtel in Stockholm and we were there.
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Grand Travel Award 2025
The Grand Travel Award 2025 was organised for the 33rd time. Not bad! This event can be described as "the travel industry's own Oscar gala" and it was organised as usual at the Grand Hôtel by Travel News, the largest business magazine in the Nordic travel industry. The host for the evening was singer Joachim Bergström.
So, how are the winners chosen? It has varied a little over time, but this year the results are based on responses from 4,100 Swedes who made at least one overnight stay during the year, as well as about 400 travel agency employees who responded to a survey conducted by the company Nordic Bench.
Grand Travel Award 2025 - start with lectures
The day started at 3pm with a number of really interesting lectures. We listened to Andreas Wallström, from Swedbank, who gave us some exciting economic perspectives.
We also heard from Johanna Danielsson from Kairos Future, who talked about trends in the travel industry, such as the decline of the concept of 'flight shame' over time
Winners of the Grand Travel Award 2025
So, who were the winners of the Grand Travel Award 2025? We tell you here! We present them in the same order as they were presented on stage...
Tour operator: Rolfs Flyg & Buss
For the first time ever, Rolfs Flyg & Buss won the "tour operator" category. Here is the top list:
- Rolfs Flyg & Buss
- VING
- TUI
- Airtours
- Apollo
Specialist Tour Operator: Swanson's Travel
Far from being the first time that Swanson's Travel, which focuses on travel to the US, won this category, it was the 15th. Here is the top list:
- Swanson's Travel
- Go Cruising / Kryssningar.se
- Easton Golf
- Themed holidays
- Jambo Tours
Hotel chain Sweden: Elite Hotels
Elite Hotels won the category "hotel chain Sweden", and talked about nice old hotels and satisfied guests. Here is the top list:
- Elite Hotels
- Clarion Collection Hotels
- Radisson Blu
- Clarion Hotels
- Scandic Hotels
Car hire: Sixt
In the car hire category, the winner was Sixt. You can see the top list here:
- Sixt
- Notices
- hertz
- Europcar
Domestic transport: VY Bus4You
When it came to domestic transport, the award was won by VY Bus4You, which offers bus travel to many different locations in Sweden. Here is the top list:
- VY Bus4You
- SAS
- VR
- Airport buses
- Norwegian
Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
Among cruise lines, Celebrity Cruises was the winner. This company has cruises all over the world, including Asia, Australia and the Caribbean. Here is the top list:
- Celebrity Cruises
- Hurtigruten
- Royal Caribbean Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- MSC Cruises
Ferry operator: Eckerölinjen
In the ferry operator category, Eckerölinjen won for the second year in a row. Eckerölinjen operates between Grisslehamn in Sweden and Eckerö in the Åland Islands. Here is the top list:
- Ecker oil line
- Viking Line
- Tallink Silja Line
- Stena Line
- Destination Gotland
Ecotourism Award: Rajamaa
The Ecotourism Award is organised by Naturturismföretagen, and this year's prize went to Rajamaa, who runs a tourism business in the small village of Muonionalusta on the island of Pitkäsaari (Långön), with a love for nature, people, animals and Sámi culture.
Flights Europe: Finnair
When it came to the "Flights Europe" category, Finnair was announced as the winner. You can see the full top list here:
- Finnair
- Norwegian
- Air France
- Lufthansa
- SAS
Flights Intercont: Qatar Airways
The winner in the intercontinental category was Qatar Airways, which has won seven times before. Here is the top list:
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Finnair
- Air France
- Lufthansa
Honorary Prize 2025: Johan Lundgren
The Honorary Award is the only prize awarded entirely on the initiative of Travel News, and this year the prize was awarded to Johan Lundgren, the outgoing CEO of EasyJet, who until the end of the year was the most powerful Swede in the travel industry.
Mountain destination: Årefjällen
The last three prizes this year were awarded in the Hall of Mirrors later in the evening (very sad!) and the first prize, which was about mountain destination, was awarded to Årefjällen. Here is the shortlist:
- Årefjällen
- Vemdalen
- Sälen - Kläppen
- Sälen - Skistar
- Idrefjällen
International hotel chain: Hilton Hotels
The penultimate award of the evening was in the category of "hotel chain international" and this category was won by Hilton Hotels. Here is the top list:
- Hilton Hotels
- Radisson Blu
- Marriott International
- Best Western
Tourist country: Italy
Last but not least, it was time to announce the winner in the 'tourist country' category. The winner was ... drum roll ... Italy! Below you can see the top list. Other countries nominated were France, Croatia, Norway, Poland and Austria.
- Italy
- Thailand
- Spain
- Portugal
- Greece
Party at the Grand Travel Award 2025
Of course, there was also a party at the Grand Travel Award 2025! The food was a mingle platter, which included almond potato cream with onion roe and creme fraiche, cold smoked char, moose sausage and thin bread roll with reindeer roast and smoked reindeer heart.
So who did we mingle with? Well, we met a lot of acquaintances in the travel industry, ranging from tourist offices and travel agencies to other travel writers. Quite simply, a fun evening!
What do you think about the winners of the Grand Travel Award 2025?
What do you think of the winners of the Grand Travel Award 2025? Do you think they are the "right" winners, or would you like to see others?
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Ditte says:
What fun to be with. Was a little surprised about Italy because what one has read, Spain and Thailand seem to attract many. But perhaps most travellers fly there. More people may go to Italy by car and train. Otherwise, it is not surprising. We have used both Finnair and Qatar for flights to Asia and have been very satisfied.
Thank you for your report.
15 February 2025 - 11:30
Helena says:
Thanks for your reflection Ditte! I think you are absolutely right about Spain and Thailand, but I don't think this award is linked to the number of travellers - but to the rating they received in the survey. We also have good experiences with both Finnair and Qatar.
15 February 2025 - 11:45
Mr Michael says:
I had no idea that such events existed but what a great opportunity to get some inspiration.
Many thanks, have the best. 🙂
15 February 2025 - 16:49
Helena says:
Thank you!!!
15 February 2025 - 19:43
Snows says:
We have never travelled with Rolfs but I have heard so many good things about the company so it was great for them.
We have flown with Emirates and it was absolutely fine. I was pleasantly surprised by TAM (now LATAM) which I flew with to and from Brazil. Incredibly good service and so good food.
15 February 2025 - 17:40
Helena says:
Same here, we have not travelled with Rolf's flight and bus either, but we have heard a lot of good things about them. Glad you have good experiences with Emirates and LATAM!
15 February 2025 - 19:44
BP says:
Rolfs Flyg & Buss was no surprise, as they have been seen on many different forums and received only good reviews. Fun! <Thought it was a bit funny that they came with such a large crew to the award ceremony. Understand them:-)
I have never heard of Swanson Travel.
The fact that the "small" Eckerölinjen beats the big shipping companies is somewhat unexpected, but actually very fun.
Another surprise was Italy.
And the food - YUMS!!! A wonderful evening for you!
15 February 2025 - 18:04
Helena says:
Yes, Rolfs Flyg och Buss has been seen a lot, and got good reviews too! And agree with you, fun that they were a whole bunch who came up on stage! Also agree about Eckerölinjen, it's a smaller line, but they must have received good ratings simply! The food, yes very good! 🙂
15 February 2025 - 19:50
Monnah says:
My first "real" trip abroad was to the US with my high school best friend. We booked tickets with Swanson's and I was genuinely happy and surprised that they are still in business. They were so helpful and nice! The fact that it was 35 years ago and that I obviously have a terrible grasp of the travel industry can be whispered about. Nice to get the chance to mingle with people who are doing the same thing! By the way, the other day the husband asked where I would like to travel if we had two weeks and could go anywhere. Here was my list:
1. Italy
2. Thailand
3. New Zealand/Australia
I am one to choose safe over adventurous and the first two have delivered big time on several occasions. We have a sister-in-law with family in New Zealand and a sister-in-law with family in Australia, so the third choice is mostly about them. I think it's just like Manchester, which I've loved since I was a teenager. Most of the time I'm pretty unfashionable, but sometimes I get really into it without having to make an effort, hehehe. Thanks for the explanation!
15 February 2025 - 20:16
Helena says:
Glad you have experience with Swanson's from that time! We've never travelled with them, but we usually see them at fairs and events like this. It seems like they are doing well! We're going to Italy this summer, and we're looking forward to it! 🙂
16 February 2025 - 7:48
JoY says:
What a fun thing to be with and mingle around in beautiful rooms, the food and get info and meet people. Rolf's flight and bus, you see a little everywhere BM and Lars travelled with them down to Namibia and were very pleased. Fun when a smaller company takes the lead before the bigger ones. Likewise Eckerölinjen at the top. We like Italy before Spain so it was fun.
Have a nice weekend
15 February 2025 - 21:50
Helena says:
Yes, it was a fun mingle! The Grand Hotel is so beautiful and the Hall of Mirrors, which I don't think I've seen before, is fantastic! Agree that you hear a lot about Rolfs Flyg och Buss, we also experience that.
16 February 2025 - 7:49
bmlarstravellingblog says:
The winners were not surprising: Italy as a country really has a lot to offer, Qatar Airways I have travelled with to Asia and been super happy, Rolfs we have done two trips with, to Jordan and Namibia countries that we wanted to go organised to. We have both times thought we got a lot of travel for the money, the tour leaders and the native guides have been really good. The only thing we can perhaps complain about is that the groups have been in the largest team, but understand that it cannot be compared with, for example, Sunway Safaris that we travelled with to Africa before, where the group was a maximum of 12 people.
It was a real night of celebration and the food sounded really good...
15 February 2025 - 22:32
Helena says:
Glad you are happy with the trips with Rolfs! We've never travelled with them, but have heard many positive things. Understand that the group sizes play a role in the experience, while of course it also affects the price.
16 February 2025 - 7:51
Lotta says:
What an evening! It's great to be part of celebrating others in an industry we all want to be part of. Holidays and relaxation are liked by most people. We have heard a lot of good things about Rolfs Flyg och Buss. They know how to sell themselves and the company and have the customer in focus.
Thanks for the nice reading!
Wishing you a lovely Sunday 🙂
16 February 2025 - 4:04
Helena says:
Thank you, have a nice Sunday!
16 February 2025 - 7:52
Madde says:
We have travelled a lot with Rolf and call us a little jokingly "Rolfers" Last time we were with them in Vietnam, a completely magical trip.
16 February 2025 - 7:11
Helena says:
"Rolfare", haha, that was fun! Great that you had such a good trip!
16 February 2025 - 7:52