Ramblers Worldwide Holidays wins top travel award

Britain’s leading guided walking tours operator, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays has been awarded the coveted Most Innovative Product to Norway for 2009 by Innovation Norway - The Norwegian Tourist Board, in London on Thursday 11 June.

The Award was presented by Georg Hana, Marketing Manager, Innovation Norway in recognition of the company’s ‘Cruise & Walk’ programme which has proved a major success following a tie up with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

In making the Award Georg Hana said, “It gives me great pleasure to present the Award for Innovation to one of our newer operators to Norway. If you love the great outdoors and enjoy exploring some of the world’s finest destinations on foot, then this is the company for you. Since 1946 they have been providing walking holidays in spectacular locations. They also channel some of their profits back into their own Charitable Trust which supports environmental conservation projects in the UK and community projects overseas.”

Hana added, “Their new product ‘Cruise & Walk’, which they operate in association with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines combines the splendour of a cruise on the world-famous Fjords with a walk into the mountains on the Flåm Railway and a hike into the Tundra for Reindeer spotting. The product is now the operator’s best-selling holiday, which is mutually advantageous for us all.”

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Sales Services Manager, Jeremy Hatton, said: "We are delighted for Ramblers that they have received this award from Innovation Norway. The Cruise & Walk programme is continuing to grow in popularity as it combines two favourite pastimes for holidays - cruising and rambling. It's the perfect match."

Tony Maniscalco, Marketing Manager of Ramblers Worldwide Holidays said, “Our aim was to provide a new and exciting product for our clients, and to date, our Cruise & Walk programme in conjunction with Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, has proven to be very successful, but now to win this award for the Most Innovative Product to Norway for 2009 is for us, truly the icing on the cake.”

For more information, visit CruiseandWalk.co.uk.