In a glittering ceremony, held on 27th April 2023, Southampton Cruise Centre was named UK & Ireland’s Top Cruise Agency (sponsored by P&O Cruises) as part of the TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies 2023: an annual power-list of the nation’s best agents by industry bible, Travel Trade Gazette.
TTG editorial director Pippa Jacks said:
Now in its eighth year, our TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies initiative sees us tour the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland to find those travel agents who have worked smartest, provided the best customer service, and done most to contribute to a fairer travel industry, in the last year.
We were delighted to see travel retailers performing so strongly, with almost every finalist reporting a record year of sales in the last 12 months – reaping the rewards of the extraordinary service they offered to clients during the challenges of recent years. There is no doubting that travel agents are here to stay – and that holidaymakers are valuing their expertise more than ever.
About Southampton Cruise Centre’s win, judges said:
This cruise specialist [Southampton Cruise Centre] impressed with new technology and service processes which put the customer at the heart of everything the team does, as well as its deep-rooted passion for looking after its staff and a focus on looking after the planet. A raft of new developments and impressive growth added up to a pivotal year for this family-run business, which is part of the Travel Village Group. A very worthy winner indeed.
Still on cloud nine following the event, the Group’s CEO Phil Nuttall had this to say:
To have a business named as the best cruise retailer in the British Isles is a huge honour, and certainly not an accolade that we take for granted.
Southampton Cruise Centre has really come of age over this last year and the decision to make this our flagship “Ocean Cruise” brand [as the Cruise Village moved to become a 5* & 6* luxury and expedition cruising brand] was clearly the right one.
Thank you to the entire team at the Travel Village Group! Your hard work and dedication to providing the award-winning service we’ve always been known for, and promoting the very best cruise offers. This is as much your award as anyone’s.
And, the best cruise agency award wasn’t the only award that the team picked up on the night. In fact, our Blackpool store and Headquarters – The Travel Village – picked up the Best Agency for the North-West! Two awards in one night for an amazing team!
The TTG Top 50 ceremony took place at The Vox in Birmingham on Thursday 27 April, with more than 500 of the UK and Ireland’s top travel agents and supplier-partners in attendance, with entertainment from Fine Young Cannibals’ Roland Gift and chart-topper Chesney Hawkes.
