Best Service Provider - Sea Crossing/Water Transport
This award is designed to recognise and reward providers of services such as meals, sea crossings, event tickets and accommodation. We were looking for those suppliers who have made outstanding efforts to accommodate, attract, and welcome coaches, their drivers and their passengers in four sectors:
- Hotels and Catering
- Theatre and Venue Ticketing
- Tour Wholesaling
- Sea Transport/Water Crossing
This page covers the last of these, looking at the key sector of Sea Crossings and Water Transport. In addition, the judges selected an overall winner, named Coach Passenger Service Provider of the Year.
Winner: Eurotunnel
With a journey time of just 35 minutes, and up to 4 departures an hour from Folkestone to Calais, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is the market leader in the cross channel short straits. A newly refurbished UK terminal was opened in 2012 and was designed as a result of listening to customers’ ideas.
Eurotunnel le Shuttle also has a dedicated coach sales team who can provide training for coach operators offering Eurotunnel inclusive trips. The judges were impressed by the commitment to the coach market, especially the provision of training so that operators can get the most out of the product.
Specially Commended
John O’Groats Ferries
The company has operated the passenger ferry from John O’Groats to the Orkney Islands for more than 40 years. The business started with a small speedboat, but these days the vessel is a ferry capable of carrying 250 passengers.
Specialising in day trips to the Orkney Islands from John O’Groats and Inverness, John O’Groats Ferries works with coach operators in the UK and Europe. Coach parties can choose a range of departure times from John O’Groats to suit their itinerary and the company regularly receives positive feedback from satisfied customers.
The judges felt this specialised operation was worthy of recognition with a Special Commendation for Innovation.
Who could be nominated?
This category was open to:
- ferry operators
- other sea crossing providers
- inland water transport providers
… and by whom
Coach operators were asked to nominate providers of services they have admired during the last 12 months.
They were asked to explain why they think the nominated service provider deserves this award – this will cover such matters as:
- the ease of booking
- the flexibility and quality of customer service during the enquiry and booking stages
- the welcome provided on the ground to
- the coach
- the passengers
- the driver