AITO – The Specialist Travel Association hosted its 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards, and Spain won the Gold Award for the 2025 AITO Tourist Board Partner of the Year.
The event, which was attended by 245 AITO Specialist Tour Operators, Specialist Travel Agents, Business Partners, Tourist Boards and guests, looked back at AITO through the years from 1976 to the present day.
Five former Chairmen and the current Chairman Chris Rowles reflected on what AITO meant to them, the challenges they faced during their tenure and their proudest moments.
Keynote speaker was Matthew Parris, former Conservative MP and journalist for The Times and The Sunday Times.
The evening also included the AITO Awards. While the Spanish Tourist Office won Gold award for tourist partner of the year, Silver went to the Gibraltar Tourist Board and Bronze to both Switzerland Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation (main picture).
White Hart Associates won The Gold Award for 2025 AITO Business Partner of the Year, with The Firebird Partnership taking Silver and Wild Dog Design being given the Bronze Award.
Peter Sommer Travels scooped Platinum 2025 AITO Specialist Tour Operator of the Year, Gold Awards went to On Foot Holidays, Bushbaby Travel and Naturetrek. Mickeldore Travel, McKinlay Kidd and Martin Randall Travel took Silver, and Wilderness Scotland and Wilderness Ireland, Experience Travel Group and Ffestiniog Travel were awarded the Bronze Awards.
In addition to the main awards categories, the special Chairman’s Award 2025 was presented to four recipients for the first time in AITO’s history. The winners included: Pam Hersey from AITO’s Head Office; Gemma Antrobus, Haslemere Travel; John Tangney, Tangney Tours; and Martin Garland, Expressions Holidays.
Main picture, from left, are Ian Bidwell (Evo) Valeria Knup and Alex Herrmann (Switzerland Tourism) Tracey Poggio (Visit Gibraltar), Pedro Medina (Spanish Tourist Office), Eleni Skarveli (Greek National Tourism Organisation)
Pictures of the other award winners below
Pictured, from left, are Will Bidwell (Evo) with Peter Sommer and Elin Sommer from Peter Sommer Travels, Platinum 2025 AITO Specialist Tour Operator of the Year award winners
Pictured, from left, are 2025 AITO Specialist Tour Operator of the Year Gold Award winners Simon Scutt (On Foot Holidays), Abi Bush (BushBaby) and Andy Tucker (Naturetrek) with Will Bidwell (Evo), far right
Pictured, from left, are Ian Bidwell (Evo) with 2025 AITO Specialist Tour Operator of the Year Silver Award winners Zoe Davidson (McKinlay Kidd), Graham Horner (Martin Randall Travel) and Martin Randall
Pictures, from left are 2025 AITO Business Partner of the Year award winners Chris Photi (White Hart Associates), Ian Finlay (Firebird Partnerships) and Tom Dunn (Wild Dog Design) with Ian Bidwell (Evo)
