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[COMPANY] RECOGNIZED WITH 2020 WAVE AWARD FROM TravelAge West

DATELINE HERE — COMPANY was honored with the 2020 WAVE Award in the category of [name of category here] in the first-ever virtual TravelAge West WAVE (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards held Dec. 3.

In addition to adapting the awards to a virtual platform, the editors of TravelAge West changed the focus of this year’s awards — putting the perseverance of the travel advisor community front and center.

“WAVE Awards usually honor the great work of travel suppliers,” said Ken Shapiro, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West. “But this year — given how difficult a time it has been — we thought it was important to center the awards around travel advisors instead by highlighting their inspiring stories of resilience and dedication. And, to their credit, travel companies were in total agreement with that decision.”

In addition to hearing from top advisors, several agents were acknowledged with special WAVE Awards.

Suzy Schreiner, owner of Azure Blue Vacations in Bothell, Wash., won the Trendsetter Award for Best Use of Social Media, and Meghan Hayes, a travel advisor with MEI Travel in Issaquah, Wash., was the runner-up. Both finalists received a complimentary, seven-night European river cruise on Avalon Waterways for two in an award-winning Panorama Suite. The award was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands.

Four advisors won the first-ever Globus Family of Brands Excellence in Leadership Award, which are designed to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of travel advisors who worked tirelessly over the course of a difficult year. The winners were Sara Butruff of Travel Leaders/Galaxy Travel in Apple Valley, Minn.; Jennifer Doncsecz of VIP Vacations in Bethlehem, Penn.; Joy Gawf-Crutchfield of The Joy of Travel in Oklahoma City; and Ines Turus of Cruises International in Schaumburg, Ill.

“We were so excited to create these special awards that are specific to travel advisors,” Shapiro said. “And Globus was a great partner for these acknowledgments.”

Supplier sponsors of the WAVE Awards included cruise lines, tour operators, airlines, car rental companies and hotels and resorts. The annual awards give travel advisors in the Western U.S. the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their travel supplier partners.

More than 2,500 travel professionals throughout 15 Western states and readers of TravelAge West voted on the best of the best from a list of Editor’s Pick award recipients that were chosen after careful review by the editorial team at TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel advisors and online research.

Normally, an in-person, black-tie dinner, the WAVE Awards is an annual highlight of the year’s travel industry events. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s live event was moved to a virtual platform, but still captured the tone and celebration of the live gala.

“The WAVE Awards are always an industry highlight,’” said Anthony Carnevale, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher for Northstar Travel Group, the parent company of TravelAge West. “This year, with the help of our industry partners, we were able to bring that excitement to a wider audience online.”

TravelAge West will publish a digital edition dedicated to WAVE Awards coverage on Jan. 11, 2021.

A full list of this year’s WAVE Award winners, as well as a list of Trendsetter Award and Leadership Award recipients, follows.

TravelAge West will also feature COMPANY in a special WAVE Awards Spotlight Digital Issue due out on January 11, 2021.

[Insert quote here from your company representative.]

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For more information, visit [Insert Company’s Web site here] or call [Insert Company’s phone number here].

About TravelAge West:

For more than 50 years, TravelAge West has built a special bond with the Western travel advisor. Now, regardless of where advisors live or work in the U.S., we are providing the information that the modern advisor needs to succeed. Our award-winning, experiential content is delivered in a creative, vibrant, highly visual and inviting format that sets us apart from the competition. We’re the brand that advisors WANT to read.

Through our print publication, website, highly engaged social media accounts, podcast, educational webinars and signature events, advisors can easily access — and become a part of — our unique coverage. We are also the only travel trade brand to have national print supplements focused on family travel and adventure travel.

For more information on TravelAge West or the WAVE Awards, contact Ken Shapiro (310-954-2521, kshapiro@).

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2020 WAVE AWARDS

AIR

Best Airline, Domestic

Delta Air Lines

Best Airline, International

Emirates

Best Airline Vacation Brand

Delta Vacations

CRUISE

Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction (less than 1,300 passengers)

Viking

Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction (more than 1,300 passengers)

Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support (ocean-going)

Royal Caribbean International

Best New Ship (ocean-going)

Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Onboard Dining (ocean-going/less than 1,300 passengers)

Seabourn Cruise Line

Best Onboard Dining (ocean-going/more than 1,300 passengers)

Celebrity Cruises

Best Refurbished Ship (ocean-going)

Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Cruises

Best Cruise Line for Shows and Nightlife

Royal Caribbean International

Best Multigenerational Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line

Best Expedition Cruise Line (ocean-going)

Silversea Expeditions

Best New Expedition Ship

Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Cruises

Best Small-Ship Line (ocean-going, less than 250 passengers)

Windstar Cruises

Best All-Inclusive Luxury Cruise Line

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best Cruise Line for Alaska Sailings

Princess Cruises

Best Cruise Line for Caribbean Sailings

Royal Caribbean International

Best Cruise Line for Hawaii Sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line

Best World Cruise

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best Suites, Cruise

Seabourn Cruise Line

Best New Onboard Dining Venue

Bistro Sur La Mer, Princess Cruises

Cruise Line with the Best Consumer Marketing Campaign

Carnival Cruise Line

River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

AmaWaterways

River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction

AmaWaterways

Best New Ship (River Cruise)

AmaMagna, AmaWaterways

Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise)

AmaWaterways

Best River Cruise Line for U.S. Sailings

American Queen Steamboat Company

Best Suites, River Cruise

Avalon Waterways

Best River Cruise Line for Families

AmaWaterways

Best Company for Shore Excursions

ShoreTrips

RAIL

Best North American Rail Vacation Provider

Rocky Mountaineer

TOUR OPERATOR

Escorted Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Globus Family of Brands

FIT Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Pleasant Holidays

Best FIT Tour Operator, Europe

Avanti Destinations

Best Escorted Tour Operator, Europe

Collette

Best Tour Operator, Africa

African Travel, Inc.

Best Tour Operator, Asia

G Adventures

Best Tour Operator, Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific

Goway Travel

Best Tour Operator, Caribbean

Delta Vacations 

Best Tour Operator, Central/South America

Globus Family of Brands

Best Tour Operator, Hawaii

Pleasant Holidays

Best Tour Operator, Mexico 

GOGO Vacations

Best Tour Operator for Adventure/Experiential Travel

G Adventures

Best Tour Operator for Multigenerational Travel

Adventures by Disney

Best Luxury Tour Operator

Tauck

CAR RENTAL

Car Rental Company Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Enterprise

Car Rental Company Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction

Enterprise

RESORT/HOTEL

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Mexico  

Barcelo Maya Riviera

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Los Cabos  

Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean

Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Cap Cana

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Hawaii

Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger, Oahu

Best Hotel Chain, Europe

Marriott International

Best Hotel Chain, Hawaii

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts

Best All-Inclusive Hotel Group, Caribbean

AMResorts

Best All-Inclusive Hotel Group, Mexico

Playa Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Brand, U.S.

Marriott International

Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Marriott International

Best Hotel Brand for Families, Mexico

Dreams Resorts & Spas

Best Hotel Brand for Families, Caribbean

Beaches

Best Hotel Brand for Families, Hawaii

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts

All-Inclusive Hotel Group Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Playa Hotels & Resorts

DESTINATIONS

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Asia/South Pacific

Australia

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Caribbean

Jamaica

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Central/South America

Costa Rica

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Mexico

Riviera Maya

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, U.S.

Hawaii

Favorite Three-Night Destination to Sell

Las Vegas

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Best Travel Insurance Company 

Allianz Global Assistance

TOURISM BOARD

International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Jamaica Tourist Board

U.S. Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support

Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau

2020 Trendsetter Awards

Best Use of Social Media

Winner: Suzy Schreiner with Azure Blue Vacations

Runner-Up: Meghan Hayes with MEI-Travel

Globus Family of Brands Excellence in Leadership Award

Sara Butruff, Travel Leaders/Galaxy Travel

Jennifer Doncsecz, VIP Vacations

Joy Gawf-Crutchfield, The Joy of Travel

Ines Turus, Cruises International

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