We are absolutely delighted to have won last week’s British Travel Awards (BTA) ‘Best Small Worldwide Luxury Tour Operator’ Award.

We are particularly excited as the BTA, which are regarded as the UK Travel Industry Oscars, are decided through a public voting system. Therefore it is our clients and fellow industry colleagues who have voted for us. The highest accolade we could ask for.

The Awards, which were audited by Deloitte LLP, received a record breaking 1,088,339 votes. This makes it the largest and most definitive reference for consumer opinion on the UK travel industry performance. With categories spanning 75 types of holiday experience – including transport, destination, cruise, customer service, holiday extras and accommodation – the BTA are regarded as the most comprehensive benchmark of excellence for the UK travel industry.

Having initially been reviewed by the BTA Academy (a group of industry professionals, media pundits and financial analysts who determined which companies should be listed), 328 brands and organisations were eventually successfully nominated for the Awards.

Although in previous years Nomadic Thoughts have won BTA awards in the ‘Most Environmentally & Socially Responsible Tour Operator’ and ‘Best Destination Tour Operator’ categories, to be this year’s outright ‘Best Small Worldwide Luxury Tour Operator’ winner, is particularly exciting because it encapsulates everything we stand for.

So a huge thank you to all who voted for us. We are truly honoured to receive this award and guarantee that we will continue to strive to be at the top, offering the best services for your holidays and travel experiences in 2013.

We are a small independent travel company who, to this day, have never advertised, relying totally on our reputation. Without the support of our clients booking holidays and spreading the word we simply would not exist.

So whilst enjoying this state of euphoria, I would like to personally take this opportunity to thank everyone connected to Nomadic Thoughts – all past and present ‘team members’, fellow travel industry colleagues and of course our beloved clients, for all their energy, enthusiasm and support. Long may it last.