Aitken Spence bags top travel awards

Aitken Spence Travels won the awards for the Best Tour Operator - Emerging Market and Best Conference Organiser at the fifth Sri Lanka Tourism Awards.

The company's first employee and also a past Chairman of Aitken Spence PLC, Prema Cooray was recognised with the Legend Award.

Having won the award for the Best Tour Operator in Sri Lanka in the first three years, Aitken Spence was the only travel company so far to enter the Awards' Hall of Fame. The company which celebrated its 35th anniversary two months ago has made major investments this year in IT to introduce modern software covering all aspects of operations and has upgraded its fleet of vehicles, a spokesman for Aitken Spence Travels said.

Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels and Director of Aitken Spence PLC, Gehan M. Perera attributes the achievement to the exceptional team at Aitken Spence who continue to rise above themselves and out-perform the market consistently.

Aitken Spence Travels is now a part of the umbrella brand Worldcome which will enhance its marketing capability worldwide. The spokesman said, "Being a future company, it has already thought of the future and has aligned with its joint venture partner TUI Travel PLC to cater to all important segments of the market. TUI Travel PLC is the largest integrated leisure company in the world.

They are also the leader in cruise handling and operates its own cruise line Hapag Lloyd. TUI is the number one leisure hotelier in Europe with nine brands."

"With regard to the fast growing online segment, Aitken Spence Travels has teamed up with Hotelbeds to procure services in Sri Lanka. Aitken Spence Travels is already a member of Intercruises, a network providing shore excursions to cruise operators."

"We are currently in negotiations with the leading international brand Pacificworld serving the MICE segment to increase our foothold in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions segment.

In Adventure Travel, we are in discussions with the Purequest brand developed within the TUI group to cater to Adventure Travel," he said.