The voting for the Guardian and Observer Travel Awards took place over seven weeks on theguardian.com. Readers were asked about their holidays and the data was recorded by an independent company, Sample Answers.
Readers were asked to rate the quality of service they received on their holidays by ticking one of four boxes: excellent, good, fair or poor.
This figure was then translated into a percentage. This system allows us to compare small companies, assessed on fewer votes, with larger rivals. A threshold for minimum number of votes was set at 1% of total votes for that category.
We are proud to be involved in celebrating the fact that despite all the continuing uncertainties in the world, the British travelling public has not lost its spirit of adventure.
And the categories are...
• Best travel agent
• Best online booking service
• Best large tour operator
• Best small tour operator
• Best large short break operator
• Best small short break operator
• Best ski company
• Best cruise line
• Best economy airline
• Best business airline
• Best ferry company
• Best train company
• Best UK hotel
• Best overseas hotel
• Favourite UK city
• Favourite overseas city
• Favourite European country
• Best long-haul country
• Ethical travel award
