GILTEDGE Opens 2026 with Major Industry Recognition and Global Travel Nominations
Cape Town, South Africa – 10 April 2026 – Luxury travel specialist GILTEDGE has begun 2026 with significant international recognition, securing two customer service awards, two Virtuoso trophies, and multiple global nominations across luxury travel and golf tourism.
The awards highlight the company’s continued growth and reputation for delivering tailored travel experiences across Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean Islands.
Customer Service Excellence Recognised by Feefo
GILTEDGE has won two awards from Feefo:
- Exceptional Service Award: recognising businesses that deliver outstanding customer service.
- Platinum Trusted Service Award: awarded to companies that consistently deliver excellent service over multiple years, based entirely on verified customer reviews and ratings.
For GILTEDGE, where every trip is carefully planned and tailored for each client, consistent service is essential. Awards based purely on verified client reviews confirm that travellers and travel advisors are experiencing the level of care and reliability the company aims to deliver.
“We are incredibly proud of these recognitions,” said Sean Kritzinger, Co-Owner and Director of GILTEDGE. “To be acknowledged based purely on customer reviews speaks volumes about the care and attention our team brings to every journey.”
Virtuoso Recognition: Second Consecutive Year
GILTEDGE was also recognised twice within the global luxury travel network Virtuoso, receiving top honours from two separate Virtuoso awards bodies:
- Top Producing On-Site Partner – Canada
- Top Producing On-Site Partner – Australia & New Zealand
Both awards recognise the partners generating the highest overall network sales in their respective categories. GILTEDGE has now received the Canada award for the second consecutive year.
“This recognition reflects the strength of our relationships with travel advisors and the trust they place in us to deliver exceptional journeys for their clients,” said Murray Gardiner, Co-Owner and Director of GILTEDGE. “Partnerships within the Virtuoso network play an important role in connecting international travellers with tailored experiences across Africa.”
Nominations at the World Travel Awards
GILTEDGE has also been nominated for five World Travel Awards, including in the prestigious category of Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator:
- Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2026
- Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2026
- South Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2026
- South Africa’s Leading Destination Management Company 2026
- South Africa’s Leading Travel Management Company 2026
These nominations speak to our presence across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, including bespoke journeys to destinations such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, and South Africa.
Triple Nominations at the Golf Awards
GILTEDGE has also been nominated for three awards at the 13th annual World Golf Awards:
- World’s Best Golf Tour Operator 2026
- Africa’s Best Golf Tour Operator 2026
- South Africa’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator 2026
These nominations cement GILTEDGE’s position as a leading name in luxury golf travel, alongside its broader portfolio spanning safari, cultural, island, coastal, city, winelands, and desert experiences.
A Finalist at the Tourism Film Festival
Our cinematic travel film, GILTEDGE: This is Africa, has been selected as a finalist at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa.
The film explores Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean Islands, taking viewers to unexpected locations and showcasing unique experiences that await across the continent.
GILTEDGE: This is Africa is our love letter to Africa, which we hope will inspire travellers to explore for themselves.
Building Momentum for the Year Ahead
According to GILTEDGE leadership, the early-year recognition signals strong momentum for the business heading into the rest of 2026.
“We have spent the past two years building platforms and resources designed to better support our travel advisor partners,” says Nina-Leigh Roets, Group Head of Digital Marketing at GILTEDGE.
“Understanding the people we work with is incredibly important to us. By strengthening those relationships and combining that insight with our expertise, we are able to create more personalised journeys for every client. We are proud of what we have built and will continue building.”
Murray Gardiner adds: “For us, these recognitions reflect the standards we set for ourselves every day”.
“At GILTEDGE, we focus on understanding our clients and travel advisor partners, planning every journey with care, and building strong relationships with the people we work with around the world. When you hold yourself to that level of consistency and care, recognition tends to follow.”
About GILTEDGE
GILTEDGE is a global travel company based in South Africa, specialising in luxury travel across Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean Islands. Founded in 2001, the company is co-owned by its directors, Sean Kritzinger and Murray Gardiner, together with Accor, one of the world’s leading hospitality groups.
Alongside its African travel expertise, GILTEDGE also manages international outbound corporate and leisure travel. The company’s services include tailor-made FIT travel, group travel, MICE, and golf travel. Through careful planning, trusted global partnerships, and personal service, GILTEDGE creates seamless travel experiences for clients and travel advisors around the world.
For more information, visit www.giltedge.travel
