Ucango Travel & Cruise has joined one of the travel industry’s most exclusive clubs by winning the Travellers Choice Brian Pateman award for the second consecutive year.
The company was named as the 2018 recipient of the Pateman Agency Award for Excellence during a ceremony held in Cairns on Saturday. It is the second year in a row the business has won the honour, a rare feat in the award’s 27 year history.
The award capped off an extraordinary weekend for Ucango having also been recognised with a Gold Choice Award (effectively top 10 agency within Travellers Choice) as well as winning top agent awards for P&O Australia; Princess Cruises; Cunard Line; Air New Zealand & Bentours/Cox&Kings.
Presented annually, the award recognises and rewards outstanding performance by a member of Travellers Choice – an exclusive collection of leading independently-owned travel agencies distributed across Australia.
Ucango Travel & Cruise Managing Director Dave Hulsman accepted the award from Joan Pateman – wife of the late Brian Pateman, after whom the honour is named – during an event at the Cairns Convention Centre attended by leaders of the Australian travel industry.
Mr Hulsman said he was “humbled” to once again receive the accolade.
“I have enormous respect for the high-calibre travel companies that are part of Travellers Choice and for the other finalists for this award, so to be named as the 2018 winner is an extraordinary honour,” said Hulsman.
“I am so proud of what Ucango Travel & Cruise has done over the last couple of years and just as excited by what might be ahead for our company.”
Travellers Choice Managing Director Christian Hunter said the Queensland travel agency is an exceptional travel business.
“Ucango Travel & Cruise continues to raise the bar in terms of finding new ways to exceed their customers’ experience, and in investing in the knowledge and expertise of its dedicated travel consultants,” said Hunter. “Queenslanders can be rightly proud of the agency’s achievements.”
