We're Inn the awards! (From Gazette & Herald)

We're Inn the awards!

For the second year running Inntravel, the Ryedale-based tour operator which specialises in offering gentle activity holidays, has scooped a hat-trick of accolades in the prestigious Travel Awards of The Guardian, Guardian Unlimited and The Observer.

It won awards for the Best Short Break Company, Best Ski Company and Best Tour Operator Website.

The company fought off stiff competition from the likes of VFB, Waymark Holidays and Neilson, but was triumphant in the awards thanks to readers' votes. In this same survey, Inntravel was fourth overall in the Best Tour Operator category.

Nearly 27,000 readers selected for their favourite travel companies by completing questionnaires published earlier this year. As they are a direct result of the experiences of thousands of consumers, the awards are considered to be the best measure of attitudes towards the travel industry.

Although readers voted for the first two awards, the Best Tour Operator Website Award was chosen by a panel of experts.

They described www.inntravel.co.uk as "attractive, lively and usable, with a tremendous amount of information".

David Quick, marketing director of Inntravel, which is based within easy walking distance of Castle Howard, said, "This is very much a team win and we are fortunate enough to have a really excellent and fast growing group of enthusiasts working in this idyllic rural spot.

''As many of our activity holidays focus on off the beaten track Europe, we tend to attract linguists who love the country and feel at home at Inntravel."

Inntravel is part of the Amber Travel Partnership, along with two other brands: authentic Greece specialist Filoxenia and Great Rail Journeys, based in York.

Updated: 14:21 Wednesday, October 12, 2005