22 May 2009

Bakers Dolphin Win Industry Oscar

West Country coach operator Bakers Dolphin has won the most prestigious industry award in the country – being named the Coach Tour Operator of the Year at the Coach Tourism awards.

The award – the industry Oscar - was presented to the company at a glittering ceremony at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, and recognises Bakers Dolphin as the best large fleet coach tour operator in the UK.

Sales and marketing director Amanda Harrington said: “We were simply shocked when our name was announced as we had a lot of respect for the other four operators that had been short listed as we know they all have very high standards.

“The last year has seen tough economic times and everyone has had to work very hard to provide value for our customers while keeping standards high. We are delighted and flattered to have won.”

In the award citation Bakers Dolphin was praised for the way it treated customers and staff as an “extended family” and said its brochures and advertising gave it a “very professional image”.

The business, which has been in existence since the 19th century and now has a fleet of 60 coaches, was chosen from all the coach operators throughout the UK. The award was presented in front of hundreds of UK coach industry executives who gathered for the announcement.

Bakers Dolphin remains a family-run business with the Baker family represented on the board. Recent innovations have included the introduction of Gold Service coach tours, a new shop in Weston-super-Mare and online booking through its website.

The firm offers both UK and overseas coach tours and has its headquarters in Locking Road, Weston-super-Mare with its coaches being a familiar site in North Somerset.

Bakers Dolphin also serves many local groups, business and schools with its extensive coach hire business.

Operations director Max Fletcher said: “Coach Hire has always been a very important part of our business and the judges recognised that we delivered excellent standards to our customers. “

The Bakers Dolphin fleet is one of the largest in the UK. It operates a full programme of UK and continental holiday tours, a huge programme of days out and trips to events, and the daily London Flyer coach service from the West Country to the capital.
Full details of all Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel services are available by visiting: www.bakersdolphin.com
Picture caption: The top team at Bakers Dolphin: Stephen Hunt (left), Amanda Harrington and Max Fletcher, displaying the prize for winning the UK Coach Tour Operator of the year award.