The trade’s leading luxury magazine, Aspire, is once again set to celebrate the achievements of the high-end travel sector with an exciting awards ceremony honouring the dedication and determination shown by outstanding individuals and companies.

Celebrating the very best brands, the most passionate trade teams and most innovative agents in the industry, the Aspire Awards will be an unmissable evening that will give the shining lights of the industry a chance to celebrate their achievements.

Last year the event was held out of London for the first time. And we’re delighted to confirm that this year’s event will see the Aspire Awards held in Manchester once again, a move made to reflect the wealth of luxury travel brands and agencies based in the north of the country. The event will return to Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on October 9, 2024.

This year’s entry process will combine both a written submission and a short, recorded piece to camera, both of which will be shown to judges. The two-minute video should simply sum up why each entrant believes they should win the respective category they’re entering.

As is the case every year, there will be multiple judging panels, some of which take place virtually and some in person, this is to ensure there is no bias in the process. Judges will submit their chosen winners individually, and the Aspire team will combine the results to establish the winners. As always, judges of each category will not know who has won until the winners are announced on the night.

Celebrity Cruises returns as headline sponsor of the Aspire Awards – a role the cruise line has held since the event’s inception. The returning destination headline partner for the evening is the Cayman Islands, who will put a spotlight on the Caribbean paradise once again. Other sponsors include Kerzner International, Grecotel Hotels & Resorts, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Explora Journeys and Above by CV Villas.

Aspire editor Hollie-Rae Brader said: “I’m delighted to announce that this year’s Aspire Awards will once again be held in Manchester. Hosting the event there last year proved a huge success, with record attendance including more agents than ever before. Aspire has a large agent audience in the north of the country and it’s important to me and the wider Aspire team that we also show our thanks and support to them, and the countless luxury suppliers based in the north.

“The awards will be bigger and better than before and we have some exciting plans in the pipeline. As always, it’s an honour for us to showcase the talents of the luxury travel industry and we’re organising a night to remember.