A family-owned holiday company based in Burton upon Trent is celebrating its best-ever year after scooping a host of top prizes at this year’s British Travel Awards (BTAs).
Solmar Villa Holidays has undergone major growth this year, moving into new markets and adding new destinations and hundreds of new properties to its portfolio.
The firm came away from the London awards ceremony with nine awards including seven golds, one silver and one bronze.
Solmar Chief Executive Julie Blake said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised in so many categories at this year’s awards. They are voted for by customers which is the best accolade we could ask for.
“We pride ourselves on the quality of our villas and our superb customer service to holidaymakers, and it’s lovely that so many of them have taken the time to vote for us as a result.
“We were up against some of the biggest names in the travel industry so to come away with nine awards is truly heart-warming.
“It’s a record year for us and we would like to thank everyone who voted.”
Solmar Villa Holidays won Best Travel Company for Villa Holidays and Best Travel Company for Family Holidays. It also took the top awards for Best Medium Travel Company for Summer Sun, Best Medium Travel Company for Winter Sun, Best Medium Travel Company for Tailor-Made Holidays, Best Medium Travel Company to East/Southeast Europe and Best Medium Travel Company to Iberia/Macaronesia.
Over the last nine years, it has won a total of 36 BTAs.
Daily Focus recently reported that Solmar was taking on properties from James Villas following its collapse and it has now acquired more than 450 of them.
Julie said the focus going forward would be to position itself as the UK’s primary provider of villas with private pools.
She added: “It’s been a significant year for Solmar with continued investment and growth across all aspects of the business.
“We will continue on this trajectory throughout 2024 and beyond with plans already in place to increase our trade sales.
“Our success at the British Travel Awards really could not have come at a better time.”
Lorraine Barnes Burton, BTA Director of Events and Partnerships, said: “This year saw more than one and a half million votes cast to determine the winners of the 2023 awards and competition was fierce.
“Solmar Villa Holidays is therefore to be sincerely congratulated on the achievement in winning seven gold awards.
“Ultimately it is the travelling public who decide the winners by voting for the travel companies they consider the best in the business. The British Travel Awards is the largest awards programme in the UK and to win is truly an achievement.”
