A North Hampshire business travel agency has been recognised on the national stage after winning Gold for Best Customer Service at the inaugural Best SME Awards 2026.
The awards ceremony, held at the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel, brought together some of the UK’s top-performing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The event celebrated innovation, resilience and excellence, with entries showcasing impressive growth, creativity and sector impact.
Among the standout winners was Principal Business Travel, which secured the top honour for its commitment to client care and wellbeing. Judges praised the company for going above and beyond industry norms, noting that while many travel providers only engage when issues arise, Principal Business Travel supports clients throughout the entire journey.
The judging panel, made up of experienced business leaders and industry experts, faced a difficult task due to the high calibre of entries.
Debbie Gilbert, founder of the Best SME Awards, said the initiative was created to ensure SMEs receive the recognition they deserve. She emphasised that all entries are rigorously assessed by experts, with no public voting involved, ensuring that winners are selected purely on merit.
Head Judge Roma Bhowmick highlighted the strength of this year’s applicants, describing the entries as demonstrating innovation, meaningful impact and exceptional customer service. She added that, in challenging trading conditions, the winning businesses showed remarkable determination and resilience.
John Acton, founder of headline sponsor peer2peer, also praised the awards, saying they showcase the tenacity and talent of SMEs driving the UK economy forward.
Principal Business Travel’s Founder, Ingrid Sanderson, said the award reflects the company’s long-standing ethos.
“We have always believed customer service should never be an afterthought – it should be the business,” she said. “Winning Gold is a powerful recognition of the standards we set ourselves every day. My team works tirelessly to support clients through every cancelled flight, delayed connection and last-minute change, often long before anyone else is awake. This award belongs to every one of them.”
Established in 1999, Principal Business Travel is an independently owned agency with over 20 years of experience. Its independence allows it to offer unbiased travel solutions without being tied to specific airlines, hotels or suppliers.
The company prides itself on its personalised approach, with a small, dedicated team that builds strong relationships with clients. Unlike larger call-centre models, clients benefit from a single point of contact, with consultants handling every aspect of business travel—from flights and accommodation to car hire and administration.
By tailoring services to individual business needs and streamlining processes for both travellers and finance teams, Principal Business Travel aims to act as an extension of its clients’ organisations.
The judges concluded that the company’s attention to care, retention and detail sets a benchmark that exceeds typical client expectations—earning it a well-deserved place among the UK’s leading SMEs.