There hasn’t been a huge amount to smile about in the travel industry, but as infection rates fall, lockdown easing is imminent and the world is beginning to open up, it’s starting to feel like better days are ahead once more.

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve all faced challenges, but as a nation we are incredibly grateful to the men and women of our National Health Service who have risked and sacrificed more than most to care for us and protect us.

Avios, the reward scheme that allows travellers to collect points that can be exchanged for flights and experiences, asked its members to donate points to NHS workers, to be exchanged for a getaway, a trip to the theatre with their loved ones, or a weekend away in a relaxing hotel.

British Airways asked its Executive Club members to join the appeal, and last week announced that they had collectively donated 100 million points, bringing the total raised by the Avios Thank You Appeal to an incredible 305 million points, enough to reward 5,090 NHS workers with 60,000 points each which they can redeem for two return flights to over 50 European destinations.

At Professional Travel Advisors, we’d like to offer our thanks and appreciation to Avios, British Airways and all those individual collectors who contributed to this campaign.

Bon Voyage to the recipients in the NHS – have the great break that you deserve!

So many thanks British Airways for this lovely gift which I will use to help with next year’s summer holiday!”

“I am a Paediatric Nurse having worked for 39 years prior to my retirement from full time employment in February 2020 . I have since returned to work in my Trust Nurses Bank and am currently working in a busy children’s OPD. I could never have imagined something like this would have happened, but I am so happy to be able to help in any way I can, it is a privilege to do so. So many thanks British Airways for this lovely gift which I will use to help with next years summer holiday!” – Anne, Staff Nurse

I hope to use these points to have a much-needed break after 2020. Thank you so much.

“As a children’s health care worker I was unable to fully fulfil my role. I was unable to care for the children that I normally look after and was limited in my job role. When restrictions then eased I was able to carry out previous tasks and provide much needed respite to very thankful families. However much changed in regards to the level of P.P.E needed to provide care for some of the most vulnerable children. I hope to use these points to have a much-needed break after 2020. Thank you so much.” – Ryan, Health Care Worker

Thank you so much for giving these awards to NHS staff. We are truly grateful

“As a registered nurse I have worked for the NHS for 31 years, my background being in A&E and as a senior sister. My current role is head of emergency planning and, as a large trust with four acute hospitals as well as community and satellite services, we set up a Covid Coordination Centre in order to manage our response. This ensured that there was a single point of contact for all information coming from national and regional teams and a staff advice line – I think at the busiest point I did a 90-hour week. I feel very humble and perhaps a little guilty to receive these Avios, as so many essential workers have gone above and beyond this year. I would like to spend my Avios on a special holiday with my husband to Santorini. Thank you so much for giving these awards to NHS staff. We are truly grateful.” – Kelly, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity