Winners & Finalists Announced BYTA 2012 - 6th December 2012
BETA is delighted to announce the winners and finalists in each category at the British Youth Travel Awards 2012.
With a record number of submissions received this year, our short listing judges had a tough task to whittle down the entries, and we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of those that took part this year.
The British Youth Travel Awards (BYTA) provide us with a platform for us to celebrate and reward our high achievers, gain recognition, and raise the profile of the work and individual succeses of organisations engaged in youth, student and educational travel, to, from and within the UK.
Best Accommodation WINNER : Clink78
Silver : Dearne Valley (Kingswood)
Bronze: Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage
Best Educational Product WINNER:Â Oxford Royale Academy
Silver: Buckmore Education
Bronze: Ardmay House International Summer School
Best International Youth Destination WINNER: Spain
Silver: Australia
Bronze: Germany
Best Leisure Product WINNER: Live the City
Silver: Spaceships Campervans
Bronze: Golden Tours
Best Marketing WINNER: Spaceships Campervans “where’s Mike”
Silver: Clink Hostels
Bronze: STA Travel “live like an aussie”
Best Support Service WINNER:Â BritBound
Silver: Britannia Student Services
Bronze: Live the City
Best Use of Social / Mobile Media WINNER: Generator Hostels
Silver: Clink Hostels
Bronze: Topdeck Travel
Best UK Youth Destination WINNER: London
Silver: Brighton
Bronze: Liverpool
Best Volunteering Organisation WINNER: Blue Ventures Expeditions
Silver: Madventurer Volunteer Projects
Bronze: Camps International
Customer Service WINNER: Palmers Lodge Hostels
Silver: Patrick Kipfmiller, St Christopher’s Inns
Bronze: Clink Hostels
Rising Star Award WINNER: Sophie Herbert, St Christophers’ Inns
Silver: Sebastian (Seb) Powell, Topdeck
Bronze: Lauren Gibbs, BritBound
Blue Ventures' work in Madagascar and Belize was recognised because of its commitment to using responsible volunteer tourism to aid marine conservation and community work in some of the world's most economically and ecologically vulnerable countries.
Blue Ventures is a multiple award-winning international marine conservation organisation that works with local communities to conserve threatened marine and coastal environments, both protecting biodiversity and alleviating poverty. Through its expedition programmes, volunteers from all over the world join conservation activities during career breaks and student gap years, working closely with field research teams and always in partnership with local communities.
Blue Ventures' Volunteer and Expedition Coordinator Kate Guy said: “We are obviously delighted to be the first winners of this new Award, especially considering the very strong competition in this category. We're committed to demonstrating the enormous potential of socially and environmentally responsible tourism for driving sustainable development in some of the world's most marginalised communities".
Blue Ventures' expeditions were featured in the BBC's Indian Ocean series earlier this year, when the show visited Madagascar. "Blue Ventures does magnificent work, helping communities and offering extraordinary volunteering opportunities that you'll remember for the rest of your life" said the series presenter Simon Reeve after filming Blue Ventures' expedition site in the village of Andavadoaka.
www.madagate.com