Atas calls for entrants for annual awards scheme

The Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers is urging travel agents to enter its 2022 awards scheme, which sees the winners crowned at the annual conference in November.

The Atas awards honours those agents that have showcased touring and adventure holidays in the most innovative or successful ways.

The winning agents will receive their awards at a glittering ceremony during the Atas conference, which takes place at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire (November 1-2).

Claire Brighton, Atas account director, said: “It was such a thrill to present the awards to our winners at last year’s conference – the agents who scooped the honours were very excited to have their hard work recognised and celebrated.

“I would urge agents again this year to take part, by nominating themselves or a colleague who has distinguished themselves during 2022, and join us in celebrating their marvellous achievements at our conference.”

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The awards for 2022 are:

• Touring & Adventure Newcomer.

This category is open to any individual agent or agency which has started trading in the last 12 months and focused on touring and adventure holidays; any agency that has started a new part of its business specifically aimed at touring and adventure holidays; OR an existing agency with a new focus on touring and adventure holidays.

Entries should highlight your route to promoting and selling touring and adventure holidays, the success you have seen as well as your plans to continue growth.

This award can be self-nominated or nominated by someone else from the wider travel industry.

• Social Media Star

This category is open to any individual agent or agency which has promoted touring and adventure holidays via social media over the last 12 months.

Entries should briefly describe your social media strategy and include details on followers and engagement levels as well as detailing the success seen as a result of the strategy.

This award can be self-nominated or nominated by someone else from the wider travel industry.

• Sustainability Champion

This category is open to any individual agent or agency who prides themselves on putting sustainable practices at the forefront of their business.

Entries should highlight a passion for sustainable/responsible travel and examples of how you put issues around sustainability front and centre to ensure clients are having as little impact as possible when travelling.

Agents entering this category must be engaging with the touring and adventure sector.

This award can be self-nominated or nominated by someone else from the wider travel industry.

• There are also regional awards, which are nominated and voted for by suppliers:

 Agency of the Year – Southern England

Agency of the Year – Northern England

Agency of the Year – Central England

Agency of the Year – Scotland & Northern Ireland

Agency of the Year – Wales

Agency of the Year – High Street

Agency of the Year – Homeworking

Agency of the Year – Online/Call Centre

Last, but not least, there will be an overall award for the Touring & Adventure Agency of the Year.

To enter or nominate, please contact Claire Brighton on claire.brighton@touringandadventure.com

Pictured: Hosted Holidays winning the Social Media award at the 2021 Atas Conference in Birmingham. Photograph by Steve Dunlop.