Travel News July/August 2016
THE BIG EVENT - ALTERNATIVE AWARDS 29
Drew Stewart of Classic Collection and Deborah Harris of Belfast International Airport enjoying the pre-dinner drinks sponsored by Amadeus
The team from Travel Solutions at the Amadeus- sponsored drinks reception
Astrid Johnston and Karen Sheals Hoy won the ‘Double Trouble Award’. They were presented with their prize by Linda Mackin of ASL Airlines
The Jet2holidays Team took home the ‘They’ll Remember me at the Big Event Award’. They are presented their award by Paula McAreavey of Northern Ireland Travel News
Sue Matthews from Med Playa and Anja Alles from Vik Hotels at the Amadeus Drinks reception
Pat Dawson and Volker Lorenz of Amadeus enjoying the Pre-Dinner Drinks sponsored by Amadeus
Olwen McKinney from Amadeus with Kathryn McDonnell from the Spanish Tourist Board
Dean Dexter of Flexible Autos entertaining the ladies at the Amadeus-sponsored Drinks Reception
Jackie Geddis of Clubworld received the ‘Celebrity Lookalike Award’ on behalf of winner Aundrea Ban- nantyne She is presented with the award by Ciaran Mulligan of Blue Insurance
Alternative Awards go down a treat...
A
ND SO another year has streaked around to the acclaimed two-day travel extravaganza in Templepatrick better recognized as The Big Event!
Once again the event was superbly organised and managed by the Travel News team – and the diversity of exhibits, seminars, activities and entertainment, all blended together with a customary liberal dollop of glorious sunshine, made for an excellent stage to network, learn and generally celebrate the amazing industry in which we are all privileged to work.
No part of the two-day itinerary gave effect to this more so than the lavish Wednesday Evening Gala Dinner when the ladies – and a good proportion of the men (!) – donned their finery and their dancing shoes in a form of advanced, dry run for the even greater opulence of the Slieve Donard in the Autumn season!
And this year – having earlier pioneered the concept – we were presented in earnest on the evening with the spectacle of “The Blue Insurance Alternative Awards”..!
Enter the bold Julian – all tux and flamboyance – to regale us from the outset with tales of his personal experience back in the halcyon days of the last century working for ‘Air Kennedy’ – and it truly seems that some of those experiences were memorable indeed!!
Moving swiftly on to the Awards themselves – neatly interspersed by the various courses of dinner.
First up ‘Double Trouble’ – the eternally inseparable in our industry at every event, to the point where we barely recognise one of the party unless the other is in attendance alongside. And fittingly, the spoils in this category went to Karen Sheals Hoy & Astrid Johnston.
Next up the ‘Celebrity Lookalike’ category – and there were a few worthy
nominees put forward here, perhaps epitomised by Alan Cross’s strong run up the stand-side in an attempt to morph into George Michael. But the trophy was awarded to the vivacious Aundrea Bannatyne of Thomas Cook for a creditable impersonation of Seventies ‘goddess’ of stage and screen and Grease’s unforgettable Sandy – Australia’s own Olivia Neutron Bomb – although Aundrea’s absence on the night has still left Julian perplexed by the ‘u’ in her name! For sure, had she been there, she would have clarified matters for him…
Then, lo, ‘Last Man – or Woman - Standing’, a kind of dubious Northern Ireland travel industry ‘Oliver Reed’ accolade, scooped by Terence Murphy, whom it was revealed had gained a more recent reputation for being first to call it a night!?
Having been sustained, Julian returned to the stage to adorn our colleagues from outside the Province, based in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, who are so attached that they never seem to go home – Nikki Porter from Jet2 holidays, take a bow! The Trip Fanatics – those who love nothing more than getting out there and experiencing the sand between their toes – a list of genuine ‘campaigners’ topped by Colin Laffin, who was so busy doing exactly that, that he had to run his acceptance speech by video link!
And so to a veritable ‘modern world’
award – the Zuckerberg Award for super-facebookers (who knew five years ago!!?). Worthy entrants indeed – Sharon Fleming, Ciaran Mulligan, John Booty, all eclipsed into the shadows by that most devoted of social media exponents, Mr Martin Maclaren! The post was registered before Martin had descended from the stage!! And back after dessert, ‘Smile Please’ for the camera-hoggers. Long term aficionados in the shape of Aaron Fletcher, Andrea Hunter and Sandra Corkin will have to hone their technique in the face of a spirited, late run by the international airport’s Graham Keddie!
Cue Nat King Cole to usher in the industry’s ‘Unforgettable’ – a strong showing for Thomas Cook with both Christine McCleery and Lisa Murray nominated alongside the totally unforgettable Jackie Geddis, but all beaten to the punch on this occasion by Claire Mulligan!
Nearing the home straight – the industry’s King/Queen of Glam, with a very broad field to choose from! The ‘Ascot’ gong on this occasion was picked up by Delia Aston, despite some very stiff competition from Dougie Muir, Sandra Corkin and Tracie Duffy. In anticipation of the impending entertainment, Liza Hammond pipped Brenda Morgan, Jenny Fletcher and Tracie Duffy to the topical ‘Dancing Queen’ Award – although the others were galvanized to get into serious training to challenge again next year! And last, and of course by no means least, the ‘They’ll Remember Me at the Big Event’ prize – for an outstanding showing, carried off by the entire Jet2 Holidays team.
And so into the wee small hours... Well done to each and everyone – and well done to all involved for setting up another generally terrific event. We await with bated breath the next riotous assembly in October!
Martin Maclaren of Beachcomber took home ‘The Zuckerberg Award’. He is presented with his award by Linda Mackin of
Railshop.ie
Brendan Mallon of World Travel Centre took home the ‘Fam Trip Fanatic Award’ on behalf of Colin Laffin
Graham Keddie from Belfast International Airport took home the ‘Smile Please Award’. He is presented with his award by Ian Kennedy of sponsor Blue Insurance
Nikki Porter from Jet2holidays collected the ‘Do You Ever Go Home Award’. She is presented her award by John Hurley from sponsor Dublin Airport
Delia Aston took home the Queen of Glam Award. She is presented with her prize by Nikki Porter of Jet2holidays
Marie McCarthy of Irish Ferries presents the ‘Unforgettables Award’ to Claire Mulligan of Clubworld Travel
Terence Murphy. centre, took home the award for ‘Last Man Standing’. He is presented with his award by Gary Bates from Thomas Cook
Liza Hammond took home the ‘Dancing Queen Award’. She is presented with the trophy by Brian Geraghty of sponsor Blue Insurance
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