Elena Ktori, Managing Director of Antella Travel Recruitment, has been named Mentor of the Year Award at the Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) annual awards. The AWTE awards celebrate excellence within the travel industry, highlighting the passion, innovation and resilience of women across the travel sector.
The awards ceremony took place as part of the AWTE annual Christmas Lunch, which brought together professionals from across the travel industry for an afternoon of networking, celebration and reflection on the year, as well as a festive menu and musical entertainment.
A key moment of the afternoon focused on AWTE’s chosen charity partner, Reuben’s Retreat, who are dedicated to supporting families facing the grief of child loss or life-limiting illness. The event raised £10,400 through a raffle, auction and guest donations, which will contribute to awareness raising and help fund counselling, respite breaks and emotional support to families in need.
Michelle Laverick, Chair of AWTE said, “We are incredibly proud to support Reuben’s Retreat and the extraordinary difference they make for families during their most difficult moments. Our Christmas Lunch is a celebration of community, and partnering with a charity built on compassion and care aligns perfectly with AWTE’s values.”
The Christmas Lunch also honoured excellence within the travel industry with its annual awards. This year’s winners included:
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Amy Skelding, FINN Partners
- Male Ambassador Award: Dave Sharman, Newmarket Holidays
- Mentor of the Year Award: Elena Ktori, Antella Travel Recruitment
- Sustainability Award: Eleni Skarveli, Greek National Tourism Office. Highly commended: Claire Ross, Dertour UK
- Unsung Hero Award Jessica Simpson, Travel Gossip & Linzi Barber, Airlinepros
- Rising Star of the Year Award: Tia Ghai, Attraction World Group. Highly commended: Rachel Santa Cruz, FINN Partnres
- The Gillyan Shebbeare Award: Nicola Graham, Reubens Retreat & Claire Osbourne, Travelport.
Find out more about AWTE here, or visit the Antella Travel Recruitment website here.
