Greece and Crete Emerge as Favorites at 1st Ice Travel Group Destination Awards in UK

Chania, Crete. Photo source: Unsplash.

Greece emerged as a standout winner in the British travel market, during the inaugural Ice Travel Group Destination Awards held recently in London.

The accolades, determined by TravelSupermarket and icelolly.com British customers, recognized Greece as the “Favorite Short-haul Beach Destination” and crowned Crete as the “Favorite Greek Island“, outshining contenders including Rhodes, Kos, Skiathos, and Corfu.

Ice Travel Group, the company behind the awards, provides cost-effective holiday packages from leading cruise lines, city breaks, and all-inclusive getaways to a vast user base of 21.6 million.

Sixteen awards were handed out during the ceremony. Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) UK & Ireland branch, accepted the awards for Greece.

GNTO UK & Ireland Head Eleni Skarveli (photo center) accepting the award. Photo source: GNTO.

Overall, Spain, Greece, and Turkey saw multiple wins in various categories, showcasing their popularity among British travelers. Notably, Barbados was crowned the favorite Caribbean Island, while USA destinations such as New York and Florida collected prizes for being the Best USA Destination and Favorite Family Destination, respectively.

In the aviation categories, British Airways claimed the title of Favorite Mid-/Long-Haul Airline, while Jet2 was celebrated as the Favorite Short Haul Airline.

“There was so much to celebrate in the industry these last 12 months and it was wonderful to see such a great turnout for the inaugural evening,” Ice Travel Group Sales Director Stuart Barrett said, referring to the success of the event.

“Overall, the ceremony put a wonderful cap on a great summer of travel, and we can’t wait to see everybody back here next year.”

GNTO promotes Rhodes to UK travel advisors

The British travel counsellors on Rhodes. Photo source: GNTO.

Considering the UK is one of Greece’s leading inbound tourist markets, the GNTO recently promoted the island of Rhodes to a group of British travel advisors.

In a bid to reinforce the island’s comeback after the July wildfires and subsequent media attention, the GNTO UK & Ireland branch recently organized a fam trip earlier this month and gave nine British female travel counselors from the Travel Counsellors platform the chance to experience the island firsthand.

The aim of the trip was to offer the British travel experts with an immersive experience of Rhodes, showcasing its vibrant tourism sector. The travel counselors had the opportunity to explore the island’s rich cultural and historical heritage, its landscapes and local cuisine. The itinerary included visits to high-quality hotels known for their culinary offerings, guided tours of the medieval town, and the popular Lindos Acropolis, as well as excursions to the island’s natural attractions and leisurely beach activities.

Widely regarded as one of the United Kingdom’s most established and successful travel companies, the Travel Counsellors platform boasts a network of over 2,000 independent agencies and travel advisors who either own their businesses or work remotely. Travelers place their trust in these advisors, valuing their personalized travel recommendations and advice.