Group Leisure & Travel Awards: Category Guide 2025

The winner of this category will be particularly popular with families and have a great appeal for children. It may have impressed due to its ability to entertain and even educate. Catering for family groups isn’t always easy. You want somewhere and something that every can enjoy. So, where has achieved all this in your experience?

When thinking about what to vote for, consider the group booking process, whether group tours and talks are available, ease of parking and access, not to mention the quality of the exhibits and special exhibitions. Is there a café, restaurant, shop and other facilities that help a particular venue stand out?

Castles, palaces, stately homes and heritage sites; some of the most popular places groups visit time and time again. But where have you had the most positive group experiences? Does it offer good coach parking, group welcomes, special tours and talks, exhibitions, events and really deliver a fantastic balance leaving you all informed and happy?

Whether linked to a historic property or a stand-alone attraction, gardens are great all-year round, offering something different from season to season. There are so many, but which one is the best for groups in your view? Does it have easy parking, how helpful are staff helping you set up visits, are the facilities and extra touches worthy of an award?

With a predicted ‘staycation’ boom, there’s more emphasis on UK tours than ever before – but which coach or tour operator stands out for you in this category? Think about a company that has impressed you with its customer service and choice of tours while ensuring the entire booking process is as smooth as possible.

Here we focus on ferry operators, as well as train services to Continental Europe that stand out because of the efficiency of their booking process, group benefits, facilities and more.

This category applies to any events in the UK and overseas. Think about what has stood out for you – and an event you wouldn’t hesitate to visit again. Was it promoted well to the groups market? Were adequate coach parking facilities provided? Did it entertain and inspire your group?

Acknowledging the importance of the festive period, this award recognises the attractions and events that go above and beyond for groups over Christmas. It can be awarded for anything from an attraction’s festive experience, a market, festival or themed-event.

We all know that a good guided tour can greatly enhance a group trip. In this category you can vote for the best you have experienced as a GTO, whether it’s a tour of a museum, sports stadium, tourist attraction, or a guided tour of a particular area by boat, foot or bus. Perhaps you’ve experienced a great tour at a historic attraction, or a brilliant walking tour when visiting a UK destination. Note: this award is not for escorted tours as part of a group holiday.

Choosing where to stay with your group is important. Where is a cut above the rest when it comes to this category? Perhaps you have been impressed with the way a certain hotel group or accommodation provider has managed your group booking/enquiry. Whether it was university or budget accommodation, a hotel or resort, where has impressed with its décor, service and facilities?

We all know that enjoying a dining experience together as a group can be extremely memorable, but it’s not always easy to find places that cater well for larger parties. It could be a themed restaurant, hotel, resort, attraction or cruise line that has really delivered when it comes to group dining. Whether an unusual location, gourmet fare, good-value, or simply a great meal with fantastic service, vote for it in this category.

We have all missed the theatre over the last year – only highlighting the amazing productions we are lucky to have in the UK. We want to know, of all that you have seen, what is the best musical or play you have seen in the West End or at a regional theatre? Which one would you, or have you, seen over and over again? Make sure you vote for it here.

A group cruise can be a great way of visiting several destinations at your leisure. This category recognises the cruising lines that go above and beyond to make your experience as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Think about which company stands out for you in terms of how a group booking is handled before the trip and the experience that is delivered while on-board You can also vote for tour operators that charter and own cruise ships in this category.

This category gives you the chance to have your say on which ticket supplier is best for groups. Whether it’s for theatre shows, concerts or events, consider the quality of the initial promotion and customer service to the seats/tickets it was able to get your party.

Is there a UK destination - town, city or resort - that continues to impress your group with its variety of attractions, accommodation, dining options and transport links, offering an unforgettable trip? Vote for your group’s favourite UK destination.

If an international city, area or attraction outside the UK has offered a truly memorable experience during a group holiday; from a wonderful atmosphere to accommodation and entertainment options, place your vote for it in this category.

This award is to recognise an individual’s service to group travel organisers. Please go to The Excellence Award page  for more information.

Finding a tour operator that offers holidays and tours that fit your group is a big deal. For this category, is there a company you have used that’s pulled out all the stops and supported you as the group organiser? Whether short or long-haul, which company deserves to be recognised, in your opinion? Perhaps it impressed you with its range of holidays and itineraries, its excellent customer service, being flexible and understanding the needs and dynamics of a group. Did it provide you with the right help and respond quickly and positively to your queries. For companies to be considered for this award, their portfolio must include overseas holiday/tour options outside of the UK.

The winner of this category will have impressed you with the incentives and facilities it offers for visiting groups, from the pre-visit information it provides to refreshment options, special offers, entertainment value and more. There are some great places to visit, but where is best for a group based on your experience as an organiser?

Previous winners and finalists for this award stood out for their first-class group travel organising skills, as well as their genuine enthusiasm, group travel knowledge, creativity, a passion for travel and a willingness to explore new options for their group, problem solving and lots more. For everything you need to know click here.