Four travel companies have made it onto this year’s Sunday Times Best Places to Work list.
Panache Cruises, Simpson Travel, Unforgettable Travel Company and loveholidays are among the 567 companies featured in the list, which is compiled from staff feedback.
The list, now in its fourth year, looks at six key areas: reward and recognition, instilling pride, information sharing, empowerment, wellbeing and job satisfaction.
London-based Unforgettable Travel Company is recognised in the ‘small’ category, of 10-49 employees, for perks including a 30-day paid sabbatical after five years’ service and a ‘bucket-list trip with a £5,000 company contribution after 10 years’.
The Sunday Times said: “The family-owned business, launched by husband and wife Graham Carter and Julia Shikina from their living room in 2015, has offices in New York, Split, Athens, Cape Town and Melbourne. Other benefits include familiarisation trips, £1,000 a year to spend on personal travel and ‘pawternity’ leave for pet adoption or loss.”
Lancashire-based Panache Cruises and Simpson Travel, in Richmond, made it into the ‘medium’ list, of 50-249 employees.
Panache was recognised for ‘looking after its 77 UK employees in style’ with free fam trips to destinations such as Antarctica and the Galapagos, as well as flexible working and wellbeing, such as access to counselling and virtual GP services.
The Sunday Times said: “Flexible working, including remote working and additional options during school holidays, and enhanced parental leave, offering six months’ full maternity pay and six weeks’ paternity leave, are standard.”
Simpson Travel was recognised for its travel perks and charity initiatives, which range from organising concerts to taking part in beach cleans.
The Sunday Times said: “The 75 staff are invited to view the overseas portfolio first-hand, and there are generous concessions on products and services during their own leisure time.
“Annual leave increases with length of service, there are family and friends discounts and all staff have complimentary annual worldwide travel insurance.”
Online travel agent loveholidays’ inclusion in the ‘big’ company list of between 250 and 1,999 employees for the fourth consecutive year means it has made the list every year since it launched.
The Sunday Times said: “The UK’s fastest-growing online travel agent is on a mission to open the world to everybody, including its 426 employees.
“Discounted breaks for staff and their family and friends are part of the deal. The flexible working policy enables the team to work from home two days a week and from anywhere for two weeks a year.”
Now the UK’s third-largest holiday company, employees also receive up to £2,000 annually for external development opportunities and a paid volunteering day.
The Unforgettable Travel Company said: “For us, this recognition means a great deal. We’ve always believed that the care and dedication we show our team is directly reflected in the experience we deliver to our clients.
“A happy, supported team creates better, more personal travel experiences – and that connection is at the heart of everything we do.”
Loveholidays Chief People Officer Rick Kershaw said: “This recognition proves that our continued investment in development, wellbeing and innovative new tools is resonating, freeing up teams and making our people’s lives easier.”
Simpson Travel CEO Ed Pyke said: “We are thrilled to have made the cut. As someone from an operations and customer service background, this award is something that is very close to my heart. It is a great accolade to have.”
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