February 24 2009

AITO announces 2008 winners of itsTravel Company of the Year awards

Today, AITO announces the two winners of its coveted Travel Company of the Year awards. Safari Drive, specialists in self-drive and tailor-made safaris to Africa and Oman, scoops the award for the best small company (less than 3,000 passengers per annum), with Martin Randall Travel – leading experts in small-group, lecturer-accompanied cultural tours – following up its win last year by once again taking top spot in the larger company category (over 3,000 passengers per annum). These prestigious awards reflect both companies’ unrivalled levels of customer service, allied with expertise and quality, in line with AITO’s long-standing philosophy.

Comments AITO Chairman Derek Moore: “It gives us great satisfaction to see two excellent tour operators take these awards for 2008. Safari Drive and Martin Randall Travel are leaders in their respective fields and these awards are due recognition for all their hard work. We set very high standards for all our members and select our annual winners by diligently scrutinising thousands of customer satisfaction questionnaires across all 140 AITO operators. To lay claim to this award allows tour operators to consider themselves amongst the finest in the UK.”

Safari Drive, www.safaridrive.com, the AITO Travel Company of the Year (small company), specialises in private, tailor-made and self-drive safaris throughout Africa and Oman. The company provides a unique style of safari which allows for a real sense of adventure. Since pioneering self-drive safaris in 1993, it has mastered the art of balancing clients’ freedom to explore their surroundings from a carefully planned itinerary with a high level of security and back-up on the ground. The company joined AITO in 1997.

Martin Randall Travel, www.martinrandall.com, scoops the top award for the second year running in the larger category as the winner of the AITO Travel Company of the Year (large company) award. Providing tours in art, architecture, gastronomy, archaeology, history and music, it is a leading specialist in cultural tours and also won the award in 2005 and 2007. The company joined AITO in 1994 and organises Mediterranean cruises, a unique selection of over 200 small-group tours and large-scale music festivals each year in over 40 countries across Europe, the Middle East and the USA; it is renowned for its innovation, meticulous attention to detail and professionalism.

To find out more about the 140 AITO specialist tour operators, all creating holidays of a high standard that come complete with 100% financial protection, visit www.aito.com to discover a world of holiday ideas or call 020 8744 9280.

Ends 24 February 2009

Note for Editors: AITO, established in 1976, represents over 140 smaller, specialist holiday companies. All offer 100% financial protection to their clients, and all subscribe to AITO’s Quality Charter. Responsible Tourism (protecting the environment and the people at host destinations) is important to AITO and its members. Visit www.aito.com for more information.

Press: Please contact Ian Bradley or Sue Ockwell at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email i.bradley@travelpr.co.uk.