Why Cornwall’s Aspects Holidays just won a UK travel award

A holiday letting agency that looks after more than 840 Cornish properties has picked up a national title, and the win came down to what its own staff had to say about working there.

Decided by the people who work there

Aspects Holidays has been named Best Newcomer (Small Company) at the 2026 Best Workplaces in Travel Awards. The national awards recognise workplace culture across the travel industry and are based on anonymous employee feedback, celebrating businesses that create positive, engaging places to work.

It was the agency’s first year entering the survey, which is now in its fifth year.

“The best company I have worked for”

Aspects Holidays Director Mandy Spencer said: “This is our first year taking part and we’ve found the feedback and insights incredibly valuable. It’s been particularly rewarding to see so many positive comments from colleagues about the culture we’ve built at Aspects Holidays, with one colleague describing it as ‘the first place I have ever worked where I genuinely love coming to work’ and another calling it ‘the best company I have worked for’. The survey has also given us valuable guidance on where we can continue to improve and invest in our people.”

Part of a Hayle-based family group

Founded in 1989, Aspects Holidays manages a portfolio of more than 840 self-catering holiday properties across Cornwall. It is part of the Hayle-based Sapphire Holidays group, the family-run collection of award-winning holiday letting agencies that also includes Boutique Retreats, Classic Cottages, Island Escapes and Unique Hideaways. Together the group employs around 200 people.

This year’s awards recognised 19 travel companies across a range of categories, following an industry-wide employee survey. They are designed to help travel businesses benchmark employee engagement while recognising organisations with exceptional workplace culture.

Recognition close to home

The latest accolade follows earlier recognition nearer to Cornwall, with both Aspects Holidays and Sapphire Holidays having previously been named among the Best Places to Work in Cornwall.

📷Aspects Holidays marketing manager Doug Howard with communications and PR manager Gemma Taylor picking up their Best Workplaces in Travel Award at the recent awards ceremony in London.