Meet the winners of the new awards that celebrate women in travel

everywoman launched its Travel Awards to celebrate the female contribution to the industry
everywoman launched its Travel Awards to celebrate the female contribution to the industry Credit: Getty

The enormous contribution made to the travel industry by women was celebrated today at an inaugural awards ceremony.

The Everywoman in Travel Awards hailed female talent in the travel industry, from junior level to the boardroom, with entrepreneurial nouse, social media strategy and business enterprise all highlighted at the event in central London.

Everywoman has been working for 18 years to showcase the work of females in industries from technology to transport and logistics, but this year decided to start a new chapter with its travel awards.

“We have been overwhelmed by the strength of the entries we have received and congratulate the very deserving winners,” said co-founder Karen Gill. “We believe that these women represent a true reflection of the breadth of female talent across the travel industry and at all stages of the career journey.”

Mary McKenna, managing director at Tour America, was the recipient of the grandest prize, the Woman of the Year Award, which recognised “an extraordinary woman whose passion, success and accessibility makes her an exceptional role model and a great industry ambassador”.

The judging panel, which included Rachel O’Reilly, head of communications at Kuoni, and Jo Rzymowska, vice-president of Celebrity Cruises, said the Irish MD was singled out for her “outstanding business acumen and dedication to inspiring other female entrepreneurs”. See below for a full list of winners. 

“The applications we received for the programme’s first year have already proven the dedication and tenacity that women in this industry possess,” said Karen Gill. “We look forward to unveiling more success stories in the years to come.”

Daniel Pearce, managing director at TTG Media, said: “Women are truly at the heart of the travel industry, although as with many other business sectors there are not enough women in senior positions – we hope to help change that by celebrating the very best women in travel with the awards, and offering inspiration to others both inside and outside of this brilliant industry.”

Inspired by the launch of the awards earlier this year, Telegraph Travel has been seeking out the women making a name for themselves in some of the most male-dominated environments. In September we spoke to Inger Klein Thorhauge, Cunard's first and only cruise ship captain, and in August we interviewed Marnie Munns, an EasyJet pilot.

Aircraft cockpits are still overwhelmingly occupied by men. When Yvonne Pope Sintes became Britain’s first female commercial airline captain in 1972, having worked her way up from air stewardess, she was told by a male pilot that if a woman ever joined his airline he would resign, while Judy Cameron, after becoming Air Canada’s first female pilot in 1978, was asked by a reporter how she would manage to fly while coping with “the ravages of pre-menstrual tension”. Attitudes have changed in the last 40 years, but even now just six per cent of the UK's pilots (and just three-to-five per cent of the total worldwide) are women. 

Everywoman Travel Awards 2017: the winners

1. One to Watch, sponsored by TripAdvisor

Ellie Barton, apprentice at Hays Travel, Darlington

Ellie was praised for her social media skills as well as her customer service credentials.

2. Tomorrow’s Leader, sponsored by TTF Media

Rebecca Hipkin, travel support team leader at Intrepid Group, London

Rebecca increased the productivity of her sales and support staff by 35 per cent.

3. Entrepreneur, sponsored by Silversea Cruises

Abi Wright, co-founder and managing director of Spabreaks.com, Newbury, London

Abi has run a “spa for all” policy ensuring that spa breaks and treatments are available for anyone with a disability or those recovering from cancer.

4. Above and Beyond, sponsored by The Travel Network Group

Karen Morris, global operations director at Travel Counsellors, Manchester

Karen oversees 1,700 individual travel counsellors across seven countries, and has personally managed the fallout from the 2004 tsunami and Icelandic ash cloud in 2010.

5. Team Leader, sponsored by Avis Budget

Angela Terry, contact centre manager, TUI, from Swansea

Angela reduced the speed of answer rate from 299 to 23 seconds and increased overall customer satisfaction 14 per cent.

6. Leader, sponsored by Kuoni

Helen Caron, distribution and cruise director, TUI, from Luton

Helen, one of only two women on the TUI board, reformed TUI Ireland, helping it to its current profitable position, as well as taking time to coach and mentor other women.

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