An Edinburgh-based small-group tour operator has been voted leading tour operator at the World Travel Awards.
Rabbie’s, which offers trips across the UK, Ireland and Europe, has been recognised in two categories at the World Travel Awards 2026, winning Europe’s Leading Group Tour Operator and Scotland’s Leading Tour Operator. The wins come in the company’s very first year of nomination at the awards.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards celebrate excellence across global travel, tourism and hospitality, with winners decided by votes from travel industry professionals and the travelling public.
The double win marks another milestone for Rabbie’s, following the company being awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade in 2025, recognising our extensive growth in overseas markets. Rabbie’s also holds a B Corp Certification and has been named Best Travel Company for Escorted Group Holidays at the British Travel Awards.
Off the back of these wins, Rabbie’s has now been nominated for “World’s Leading Group Tour Operator” 2026, putting the company on the global stage alongside some of the world’s best travel companies.
Here, Hazel Rickett, CEO at Rabbie’s, discusses what the double win means to the team and to the travellers who voted for them.
Hazel Rickett, CEO at leading small-group tour operator Rabbie’s,said: “To win not one but two World Travel Awards in our first year of being nominated is something I’m incredibly proud of. These awards are voted for by the people who travel with us and work alongside us, so they mean a great deal to the whole team.
“Our guides and the team behind the scenes work so hard to give every customer a brilliant experience, and this recognition belongs to them. Being named Scotland’s Leading Tour Operator is particularly special, because Scotland is where Rabbie’s started and it will always be home.”
Showing Off Scotland and Beyond in Small Groups
Rabbie’s is committed to keeping group sizes small, with mini-coach tours departing from major cities across the UK and Europe, giving travellers the chance to reach places that larger coaches can’t.
Hazel said: “Scotland is an incredible country to explore, and so much of what makes it special is found away from the big cities. Our small groups mean we can take people down single-track roads to quiet glens, lochs and villages that most visitors never get to see.
“There’s something really special about travelling in a small group, too. People arrive as strangers and leave as friends, and our guides get to know everyone by name. They love sharing the stories and history of the places we visit, and that personal touch is what our customers remember long after they’ve gone home.
“Whether it’s the Highlands, the west of Ireland or the Swiss Alps, we want everyone who travels with us to fall in love with the places they visit, and to come back again and again.”
Voting for the World’s Leading Group Tour Operator 2026 is now open and closes on 30 October 2026
