The last year has been an eventful one for Britannia Tours with the travel company celebrating 35 years in business culminating with the winning of two awards.

Britannia was recently awarded the prestigious 'Top Travel Agent Award' by Air Malta and the 'Service With a Smile Award' by the Malta Competitive and Consumer Affairs Authority.

"Significantly, this year's Top Travel Agent Award is the sixth consecutive time we have won it - an ambitious award won by an ambitious team.

"The product development team, headed by my son Kris, have managed to keep many clients (old and new) interested in our products by offering them new ideas to new destinations together with the established ones.

"Hats off to them for being so creative in producing all this," says Noel Farrugia, managing director of the company.

Mr Farrugia recalls the early days when the first groups were organised to visit Catania aboard the MV Għawdex.

The company moved forward quickly and had their first tour to Rome on a coach holiday from Catania, followed by their first charter flights to Lourdes.

Soon, Britannia conquered Europe and other continents, establishing themselves as one of the major tour operators on the island and in the Mediterranean.

"After 35 years, we are not stopping here. We are now going overseas and expanding our travel connections abroad, particularly in Slovenia.

"All this would not have been possible if it were not for Eric Pace Bonello, the founder of Britannia Service Ltd, who believed in me and Linda Bonello," recalls Mr Farrugia.

One of the most successful destinations for Britannia has certainly been Slovenia. In fact, for their recent anniversary celebrations, Brittania had the honour of hosting Eva Strauss Podlogar, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Development and Technology of Slovenia.

"When we had our first charter flight to Slovenia 10 years ago, I remember we had spoken for the first time at the World Travel Market in London and Mrs Strauss Podlogar listened to us and believed in us as well.

"We are now discussing the opportunity of increasing charter flights to Ljubljana and Maribor. We are also in discussion to open up our offices in Slovenia.

"Credit must certainly be given to Mateja Golja who has been instrumental for our success as well as Tamara Saijovic.

"We have a long way to go and many plans in store for 2018," says Mr Farrugia.