Judging for the 2024 routeone Awards has been completed. That came with a two-day gathering on 2 and 3 September during which the expert panel held a round of interviews in people categories and made final decisions on the winners of all 16 trophies for individuals and operators.
Those will be presented on Wednesday 13 November at the new venue for 2024 of The Vox at Resorts World Birmingham. It is part of the NEC campus, and the evening once again sits alongside the three-day Euro Bus Expo trade show, which will be held at the NEC between 12-14 November.
Over the judging session, interviews were held with finalists from the Channel Islands to the north coast of Scotland. More than 80 entries had previously been shortlisted at an earlier one-day meeting.
Members of the panel have paid tribute to the quality of submissions in both the people and the operator categories, with one longstanding senior industry figure noting that it is a pleasure to be able to see so many strong individuals and organisations from across the sector.
Reflecting the position of the routeone Awards as the coach and bus industry’s only all-encompassing recognition ceremony, finalists were drawn from small coach operators with a handful of vehicles to the large bus groups.
In many categories the judges were pushed hard to arrive at a winner but did so after deliberation and discussion. That includes the Special Award. There, nominations are not accepted. Instead, an individual who has made a major personal contribution to the industry is selected by the panel at its discretion.
A household name is in place to act as co-host of the evening and deliver the after-dinner entertainment. With a change in venue, courtesy coaches will again run from other hotels around the NEC site both before and after the event.
Backing for the routeone Awards from the supply side of the industry remains strong, with a stellar list of sponsors, supporters and partners drawn from those ranks. Organiser Diversified Communications has thanked both those parties and members of the judging panel for making the Awards possible.
With the presentation evening now little more than two months away, ticket sales are accelerating. They are available via the routeone Awards website at £195 plus VAT each, or £1,950 per table of 10.
