INTERNATIONAL. Gulf Air cabin crew member Anjali Righton was named Global Inflight Sales Person of the Year at the annual ISPY Awards dinner on Friday evening.
Held near London Heathrow Airport, the ISPY (Inflight Sales Person of the Year) Awards (owned and hosted by UK training specialist TRT) followed an intensive two days of specialist training for crew from around the world. A one-day conference for airline management was also held.
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The night’s big winners: (L-R) Cynthia Lazatin, Gulf Air; Jo Whinder, Thomas Cook Airlines; Anjali Righton, Gulf Air |
At a private dinner a night earlier, Scorpio Distributors was named Inflight Supplier of the Year (as judged by the participating airlines) and First Choice Airways Inflight Retailer of the Year (judged by suppliers).
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It was a great night for Gulf Air. (Left) Anjali Righton celebrates her crowning achievement; (Right) Cynthia Lazatin accepts her big award from Markus Stauss and Rusty Wright of lead sponsor Coty Prestige and host Christine Martin | |
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Jo Whinder of Thomas Cook Airlines was named overall winner from the UK and Ireland; (Right) Alan Hayes of First Choice Airways, the airline considered to have the best sales culture, accepts his award from Martyn Westbury of Mars and host Christine Martin of organiser TRT | |
Apart from the global winner, each of the awards – which included ISPY Personality, Effective use of the PA, Product Merchandising, Product Knowledge, Selling with Emotional Intelligence, Sales Motivator of the Year and Overall Winner – was split into UK & Ireland and Rest of the World.
The awards evening was an impressive affair with all participating cabin crew being led through a cloud of dry ice into the room at the start of the evening. Several wore national costumes, underlining the internationalism of the affair.
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The winners were drawn from airlines, scheduled and charter, from all around the world | |
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(Left) Host Ray Martin of TRT; (Right) A proud Ray D’Souza, Inflight Manager for Gulf Air concessionaire Bahrain Duty Free | |
The night was a particular triumph for Gulf Air as another crew member Cynthia Lazatin was named Overall Winner for Rest of the World. Bahrain Duty Free is the inflight concessionaire for Gulf Air. Jo Whinder of Thomas Cook Airlines was named Overall Winner for UK & Ireland.
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Gulf Air triumph at ISPY Awards Click the Podcast icon for crew and concessionaire reaction to Gulf Air’s ISPY success To download: right click on the Podcast icon and select ‘Save Target As’ option Click here for more information, instructions and previous Podcasts |
First Choice Airways was named Airline of the Year in terms of crew training and recognition.
We’ll bring you a full Picture Gallery of the event later in the week.
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (AS VOTED BY THE AIRLINES)
Highly commended: Premier Portfolio, Alexander Bottega, Mars
Winner: Scorpio Distributors
INFLIGHT RETAILER OF THE YEAR (AS VOTED BY THE SUPPLIERS)
Highly commended: Aer Lingus, Jet2.com, Thomas Cook Airlines, Singapore Airlines
Winner: First Choice Airways
PERSONALITY AWARD
Leonard Miron, Virgin Atlantic Airways
PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE
Rest of World
Highly commended: Clenito Pinto, Gulf Air
Winner: Imani Klaveren, Surinam Airways
UK & Ireland
Highly commended: Noreen McVeigh, First Choice Airways
Winner: Michelle Elsey, Thomas Cook Airlines
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EFFECTIVE USE OF THE PA
Rest of World
Highly commended: Karen Yip Wei See, Singapore Airlines
Winner: Joana Tenente, Air Transat
UK & Ireland
Highly commended: Amy Marklew, Flybe
Winner: Paul Johnson, Virgin Atlantic Airways
PRODUCT MERCHANDISING
Rest of World
Highly commended: Jody Park, Northwest Airlines
Winner: Vincent Poncin, Emirates Airline
UK & Ireland
Highly commended: Nicola Higson, Jet2.com
Winner: Louise Chisholm, Jet2.com
SELLING WITH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Rest of World
Highly commended: Yan De Thieulloy, Air Canada
Winner: Pia Tiainen, Finnair
UK & Ireland
Highly commended: Kim Thompson, Aer Lingus
Winner: Julie Brooks, bmibaby
REST OF WORLD WINNER OVERALL
Cynthia Lazatin, Gulf Air
UK & IRELAND WINNER OVERALL
Jo Whinder, Thomas Cook Airlines
SALES MOTIVATOR OF THE YEAR
Valerie Kelly, Aer Lingus
ISPY AIRLINE OF THE YEAR (FOR DEVELOPING A CREW SALES CULTURE)
First Choice Airways
GLOBAL INFLIGHT SALES PERSON OF THE YEAR
Anjali Righton, Gulf Air
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