Our Story So Far
Awards & Milestones
Trailfinders' mission statement is to exceed the expectations of our clients, staff and suppliers, and we are proud to be known for our exceptional service. Here are some of the major awards and milestones we've achieved since our inception in 1970:
2026
Which? Awards
Good Business Pays
2025
Which? Awards
Best for Beach Holiday Companies
Best for City Breaks
Best for Family Holidays
Best for Tailor-Made Holidays
Best for Cultural Tour Providers
Best for Package Holidays
Carnival UK’s UK Cruise Awards
Which? Awards
The Times and Sunday Times Editor's Choice Award
The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards 2025
2024
Cyber Essentials Certified
The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards 2024
Wanderlust Travel Awards
Which? Recommended Provider
2023
The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards 2023
The Wanderlust Magazine Awards 2023
Good Business Pays Awards 2023
Which? Recommended Provider
2022
Food & Travel Magazine Readers Award 2022
The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards 2022
2021
The Food and Travel Magazine Awards 2021
2020
The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards 2020
2019
The Times, The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Awards 2019
National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards 2019
Silver Travel Advisor Awards 2019
2018
The Times, The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Awards 2018
National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards 2018
CLIA Cruise Excellence Awards 2018
Food and Travel Magazine Awards
2017
National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards 2017
They said 'TF are THE travel experts with the know-how to turn your whims into expertly organised once-in-a-lifetime holidays'.
The Times, The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Awards 2017
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Awards
Food and Travel Magazine Awards
2016
Insight Vacations, the luxury escorted touring company
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2016
Rocky Mountaineer, the iconic scenic rail company in Canada
The Times, The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Awards 2016
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2016
Trailfinders wins 'Most Trusted Travel Brand' and 'Best Package Holiday Operator' at the Guardian & Observer Travel Awards.
Trailfinders wins 'Keep Exploring' award. Trailfinders was recognised by Destination Canada, Canada's Official Tourist Board, as a UK market leader for our innovative and inspiring Canada programme.
2015
CLIA UK & Ireland Cruise Excellence Awards 2015
The Which? Awards 2015
Great Southern Rail, owners of the luxurious trains in Australia - The Indian Pacific and The Ghan
The Times, The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Awards 2015
The UK's Best Tour Operator
2014
The Telegraph Awards 2014
Which? Consumer Travel Survey 2014 - The Best & Worst Holiday Companies Revealed...
The Times, The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers Awards 2014
CLIA UK & Ireland Cruise Excellence Awards 2014
Destination Canada Awards 2014
Trailfinders voted 'Best Tour Operator' by readers of The Telegraph
Guildford travel centre opens
2013
The Times, The Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Travel Magazine inaugural Travel Awards
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Value for Money Awards
Brand USA, the country's official Tourist Board
2012
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2012
The Which? Consumer Group Travel Survey 2012
2011
The Tongsai Bay, a boutique & Independent hotel in Koh Samui, Thailand
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2011
The Wanderlust Magazine Awards 2011
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers Awards 2011
The Which? Awards 2011
The Which? Awards are entirely independent. Businesses cannot put themselves forward for an award - they are chosen after rigorous research by Which? as well as from feedback from its members.
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2011
Trailfinders Australian Garden wins a Silver Gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
2010
The Wanderlust Travel Awards 2010
Qatar Airways, the state-owned flagship airline of Qatar
2009
The Which? Holiday Survey 2009
The Saint Lucia Tourist Board
The Guardian & The Observer Readers Travel Awards 2009
2008
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2008
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2008
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards 2008
Trailfinders launches new Adventure Touring & Expedition Cruising brochure in partnership with G.A.P Adventures
Trailfinders Australia Garden wins a Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Trailfinders Specialist Round the World & Tailormade Private Touring departments are created
2007
Tourism New Zealand Travel & Tourism Awards 2007
Tourism Australia, the country's official tourist board
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2007
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2007
Voted Best Specialist Travel Organiser 2007 by Telegraph readers
The £6 million Olympic Pavilion at Trailfinders Sports Club is officially opened by Steve Pound MP on 4 May - visit tfsc.co.uk for more information about our Sports Club
Trailfinders Australian Garden wins Silver-Gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Aberdeen Travel Centre opens
2006
CoolBrands 2006/07
The Saint Lucia Tourist Board
Silversea Cruises
Mike Gooley awarded prestigious 'Chairmans Award for Most Important Contribution to Australian Tourism by an Individual' by Tourism Australia
Trailfinders sponsors the Gold Medal winning garden - 'Fleming's Nurseries Australian Garden presented by Trailfinders' at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Booked our 9 millionth passenger
Launched 'Hotels with a Difference' brochure
2005
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2005
The Superbrands Council
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2005
CoolBrands 2005
Voted Best Travel Agent in The Guardian/Observer awards for seventh time - reader voted
2004
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2004
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2004
Book our eight-millionth passenger
Ranked twelfth largest producer of scheduled airline business in the UK
2003
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2003
Tourism Malaysia, the country's official Tourist Board
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2003
London Longhaul and Transatlantic Travel Centres merge forming Kensington 'United', one stop travel shop.
European Department remains independent.
Ranked eleventh largest producer of scheduled airline business in the UK
The Mike Gooley Trailfinders Charity passes £10 million in donations
The Sunday Times Rich List names Mike Gooley as the fourteenth most generous giver to charity
2002
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2002
Piccadilly Travel Centre opens as a concession in Waterstones - the largest bookshop in Europe
2001
Wanderlust Magazine Travel Awards 2001
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
The Telegraph Travel Awards 2001
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 2001
Voted Best Travel Agent by Wanderlust readers
2000
Tourism New Zealand Travel & Tourism Awards 2000
1999
Lufthansa, the largest German airline
Book our four-millionth passenger
1998
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 1998
Book our three-millionth passenger
1997
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 1996
Visit the website to find out more - tfsc.co.uk
1996
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 1996
Volunteer to the CAA on an official basis to be responsible for the refund or repatriation of any of our clients
suffering as a result of an airline failure
1995
The Guardian & The Observer Travel Awards 1995
Authorised to start issuing Australian visas on the spot from our Visa and Passport department in Kensington
1994
1993
1992
1991
1989
1979
Became the first travel organiser to be connected directly into the Airline Computer Reservation System
Became the first travel organiser to be granted an ATOL licence by the CAA
1977
1972
1971
1970
Work for Trailfinders
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