The winners of the Business Travel People Awards 2026 were announced on September 15, 2026 at the biggest ever ceremony in the history of these prestigious awards.
The awards, now in their 15th year, recognise individuals and teams in corporate travel whose professionalism and business excellence make them stand out from their peers.
They showcase the industry’s finest talent at all stages of a career and across all business travel sectors, including those working in frontline or back-office functions who might not otherwise be recognised.
Unlike other awards, they celebrate the achievements of the people in the industry, rather than the companies or brands.
Winners and highly commended in the 21 categories were presented their trophies in front of a lively crowd of 360 guests at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden.
The Wandering Hands band were back by popular demand and played personalised tunes as each winner came to the stage.
The headline sponsor of the ceremony, Direct Travel, awarded a special ‘People’s Award’, giving all guests the chance to vote for someone in the room on the night who has inspired them.
The award went to Paul Webb, Senior Account Manager, Agency Sales, Delta Air Lines, who won a £500 Amazon voucher.
Virgin Atlantic was this year’s Ruby Sponsor and kindly sponsored the welcome drinks. Bronze category sponsors for 2026 were ALTOUR, Blacklane, Clarity, DOMO, Focus Travel Partnership, INNTEL, SAP Concur, SITU, Sirius Talent Solutions, South Western Railway, Talma and United Airlines.
The awards are judged by an independent panel of industry experts, many of whom joined the celebrations in London.
A special Chair’s Award went to Linda Bekoe, CEO and Founder of About Partners, who was described as a true champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
“Her unwavering commitment, energy and leadership has made a lasting impact across the global travel industry and beyond, ensuring that DE&I remains firmly on the agenda when it would have been easy for it to fade into the background,” said Leigh Cowlishaw, Chair of the Judging Panel who presented the award.
Stuart ‘Mobility’ Donnelly at The Miles Consultancy won the award for Industry Contribution for his commitment to elevating ground transport, a sector that is often overlooked.
“A passionate innovator and influencer, this person lives and breathes this sector, volunteering on countless committees, mentoring, speaking on panels and sharing thought leadership,” said Cowlishaw. “In fact, he is so committed to this sector, he’s even incorporated it into his name!”
Opening the ceremony, Kirsty Hicks, Publisher of The Business Travel People Awards and Director People Awards, said: “One of my favourite living composers, Gary Barlow, said ‘You light the skies, up above me. A star, so bright, you blind me’. Tonight, I look out at a roomful of stars who are lighting up our industry, day in day out, year after year, so thank you.”
Speaking after the ceremony, Danny Cockton, one of the original founders of The Business Travel People Awards, said the night was a reminder that “keeping travellers safe, costs controlled and relationships well maintained can be supported by technology, but requires the expertise, strategic thinking and empathy of people to deliver results. It’s still a people business, after all”.
Co-founder Martin Ferguson said the awards were created as the industry was emerging from the financial crisis when many talented people had been forced to leave.
“We wanted to shine a light on the people and teams who made managed travel happen, rather than the brands and senior executives who usually received the recognition,” he said. “We were relatively early in our own careers, but we understood that this was an industry built on people and relationships – and 15 years later, it still is.”
The winners and highly commended in the Business Travel People Awards 2026 are:
Account Management team of the Year
Clarity Account Management Team
Highly Commended: PredictX Business Intelligence Analyst Team
Account Manager of the Year
Sarah Corrie, Direct Travel
Meetings & Events Team of the Year
Meeting and Events Team, Blue Orchid Hospitality
Business Travel Team of the Year
Direct Travel’s UK Operations Team
Highly Commended: Laith Abuhazeem, The APCO Travel Team – APCO Worldwide LLC
Sales Champion
Carly Tebay, Clarity
Marketing Champion
Mark Wilson, Global Travel Management
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion
Diane Beverley, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Sustainability Champion
Delphine Millot, Global Business Travel Association
Sustainability Team of the Year
The Thrust Carbon Team
Travel Technology Innovator – Individual
Folusho Alade, Internova Travel Group
Travel Technology Innovator – Team
PredictX Team
Mentor of the Year
Ed Dawson, American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) Consulting
People Manager of the Year
Andrea McMullan, Clarity
Highly Commended: Scott Pawley, Global Travel Management
Industry Newcomer
Kayleigh Dawkins, Holiday Extras
Highly Commended: Megan Long, Inntel
Rising Star
Abbie Erdbrink, Situ
Shining Star
Coral Cavaye, Discover the World
Highly Commended: Laura Hughes, Hotel and Travel Solutions
Travel Team of the Year
Verity Phillips-Davies, Natalie Wells, Abbie Ancell, BDO LLP
TMC Above and Beyond – Individual
Imogen Gargett, Access Bookings
TMC Above and Beyond – Team
People and Organisational Development Team, DGI
Highly Commended: Internova Finance Team
Industry Contribution Award
Stuart ‘Mobility’ Donnelly, The Miles Consultancy
Chair’s Award
Linda Bekoe, About Partners
