Leek based tour operator, Railtrail Tours, have won Gold in the prestigious British Travel Awards. Railtrail Tours have been voted Best Rail Holiday Company in a classification for tour operators with fewer than 10,000 passengers per year.
The family firm which employs 14 staff in their Leek offices including founder Dave Felstead, son Paul and daughter Julie are ecstatic at receiving this major award, that is recognised by consumers as the “symbol of excellence” within the travel and tourism industry.
The award is especially important as it is based entirely on votes from members of the public who recognise that the quality of tours and customer service offered by Railtrail are second to none.
Owner & Managing Director, Dave Felstead said: “it’s a truly magnificent honour to win gold as the Best Rail Holiday specialist because it is a premier national award and reflects on both the wonderful team, we have at Railtrail Tours and the outstanding support from our clients and supporters who have voted for us.”
Dave started his passion for operating rail holidays after watching the BBC TV series ‘Great Railway Journeys of the World’ where Michael Palin starred in the British version featuring a train journey from London to the Kyle of Lochalsh in Scotland which was filmed back in 1979.
Dave contacted former colleagues at Stoke station and set up a ‘follow in Michael Palin’s footsteps’ rail holiday. This was tremendously successful and lead to further tours and a passionate hobby that eventually grew into the family firm it is today.
The company now operate an extensive collection of escorted rail inclusive holidays of Britain, Europe and select Worldwide destinations. Tours range from Classic Rail Holidays featuring spectacular train journeys, wonderful attractions, and quality hotel accommodation, through to Steam, Rail & Ale tours visiting breweries and heritage steam railways.
Thanks to their having licences with every train operator in the country passengers have the option to commence their tours from any railway station in the UK.
In 2021 Railtrail will be operating over 130 escorted tours throughout Britain & Europe varying from 3 to 14 days duration. With longer, unique, visits to Australia and Colorado to enjoy superb scenery riding in steam locomotive hauled carriages.
The Covid pandemic has severely curtailed tour operation in 2020. In these uncertain times it is more important than ever that the public can have confidence in the companies providing their travel arrangements and this is where Railtrail Tours have excelled with Customer Care first and foremost in mind.
Railtrail are unique in tour operating by having their own Client’s Trust Account at Lloyds Bank whereby all client’s monies paid for their tours go directly into the Trust Account and remains there until the Trustee transfers the clients’ money to Railtrail after the tour returns. Therefore, whenever a tour has been cancelled e.g., because of the Covid pandemic clients have automatically received full refunds within days of cancellation with no need to complete claims forms etc. Absolutely no stress or worry.
For further details of the award-winning Railtrail Tours visit www.railtrail.co.uk or call 01538 382323 to request a brochure.
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