Irish Ferries which has an eight-strong fleet, connecting Ireland, UK and France, has been voted as the ‘Best Ferry or Fixed Link Operator’ at the UK Group Leisure & Travel Awards 2023, writes Jehan Ashmore.

This is the 5th successive year that Irish Ferries has won this accolade, voted for by groups travel trade professionals from around the UK. The ceremony awards recognised the very best providers, attractions and destinations for groups, as voted for by readers of Group Leisure & Travel magazine.

Irish Ferries, owned by the Irish Continental Group (ICG), had won against strong competition from DFDS, P&O Ferries, Stena Line, WightLink and the fixed link operator, Le Shuttle (The Channel Tunnel) connecting services between the UK and France.

In 2021, Irish Ferries made its debut on the Dover-Calais route where established rivals, DFDS and P&O Ferries run on the busy Strait of Dover short-sea link. The UK-France service operated by Irish Ferries compliments their Irish Sea routes (Holyhead-Dublin/Pembroke-Rosslare) and a direct France-Ireland connection between Cherbourg, Normandy and the Irish capital.

The Dublin based ferry operator took home the award from The Group Leisure & Travel Awards ceremony, which was held on Wednesday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milton Keynes.

Some 250 guests attended the ceremony dinner, from ferry companies, group travel organisers, coach operators, venue attractions, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, experience providers and other travel trade suppliers.