Midcounties Co-operative’s chief retail officer for specialist business, Alistair Rowland, took home the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Globe Travel Awards.
Having worked in the travel industry for over 20 years, Mr Rowland led the expansion of Midcounties’ travel division. He started his career at First Choice and Holiday Hypermarket, before joining the co-op movement, first with United Co-operatives, and then overseeing brands including Future Travel, the Freedom Travel Group, Cumbria Cruises and Co-operative Travel Management.
Following Thomas Cook’s acquisition of the Co-operative Travel Group, Mr Rowland remained with Midcounties and led its the travel arm’s expansion and profit growth.
He has also served on the board of UK travel trade association ABTA since 2012, which he has also been chairing since June 2019.
Mr Rowland said: “I am delighted and humbled to receive this very special award. I am hugely proud to have developed and protected the Co-operative brand within the travel sector, to the point that it’s one of the top agency businesses in the UK today and has earned its place as a significant and trusted travel brand. This award means the world.”
Organised by travel publication Travel Weekly, the awards are in their 43rd year.
