Coach tour operators won big at the high-profile routeone Awards last week.
Easton’s Holidays, based in Stratton Strawless in Norfolk, took home the Small Coach Operator of the Year award, being praised by the judges for its “long-established and hard-earned reputation”.
Cotswolds operator Pulham & Sons (Coaches) won the same accolade for Medium Coach Operator, with the judges citing its record of “growth, profitability and high standards”, while Large Coach Operator was awarded to Horseman Coaches of Reading.
Stephen Barber, formerly the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s Director of Coaching and once the Managing Director of Wallace Arnold, won the Special Award. The judges praised his demonstration that he is “prepared to defend all that is best in the coach industry”, and that he took “considerable pride in representing an operator of such standing that other operators could only aspire to emulate.”
Organised by GT&T’s parent Diversified Communications UK, the gala presentation evening was held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 4 October, attended by 800 coach and bus industry guests. It was presented by broadcaster Katie Derham, with entertainment provided by comedian Hal Cruttenden.
- Sister event the British Coach Tourism Awards returns on 21 March 2018. Entries close on 17 November.